Evolution

Some complex systems have two other very important characteristics: evolution and adaptation. These two are briefly explained in this and next posts, respectively. In future posts, Co-evolution and Co-adaptation and their embodiment in context of LTH as well as supply chains will be described.

Evolution, in general, is defined as a process of gradual and progressive change or development over time. Evolution is change of complexity and adaptation of complex systems in time. For me, evolution is the loveliest characteristic of complex systems where an inception starts. Based on what I have understood till now, evolution has originated from discipline of biology with belief in two generating mechanisms; natural selection and genetic drift. For sake of simplicity, I just exemplify some dimensions of natural selection which may help a complex system like LTH to evolve (I have adopted the principles from http://necsi.edu/):

1) Variation in species: This may relate to existence of optimal diversity of/at departments and divisions. Diversity should be in humans (for example students, researchers, and personnel) and their skills, research areas, research projects, courses and programs, etc.

2) Organisms produce more offspring than actually survive: There should be enough students and researchers in all levels from bachelor to professorship.

3) Organisms must struggle to survive: The organisms, like agents or departments at LTH, must be provided with enough resources and facilities. In addition, agents should also themselves struggle to earn resources like money; projects; contact with other faculties, universities, and industries; etc.

4) Some variations allow members of a species to survive and reproduce better than others: The agents, like departments or divisions, should train their students and personnel in a way to prepare them for surviving, like finding or creating jobs, after graduation.

5) Organisms that survive and reproduce pass their traits to their offspring, and the helpful traits gradually appear in more and more of the population: The senior researchers and graduate students must share and transfer their knowledge and experience with junior researchers and undergraduate students in time.

All the above mentioned dimensions provide opportunities for evolution in supply chains as well. Some examples inspired from the above principles can be as follow:

1) Variation in supply chain resources (both tangible and intangible);
2) Back up from upstream agents of the chain like dual sourcing than single one;
3) Optimal expanding and diversification of the downstream links like entering the new markets or creating new demands;
4) Shifting from supply chain view to value network view;
5) Translating markets’ values for each type of chain in the network.

Supply chains have tremendously evolved since their existence. Developing from traditional transport links to logistics and distribution and then combination with marketing and production are all evidence of evolution in supply chains. Supply chains have also faced with revolution in their evolution. For example, Industrial- and Information revolution as well as globalization (by introduction of GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) and its successor, WTO (World Trade Organization)) have tremendously affected evolution of supply chains.
In my current standpoint, I do believe that there is not naturally any guaranty for sustainable development in complex systems. What we can do is to make and run semi-sustainable strategies and operations, respectively which may show a pattern of emergent sustainability in both short- and long-terms. If we succeed to gradually develop while sustaining the system in the long term then we can open the door towards evolutionary sustainability. The role of a leader for sustainable development is to navigate the system in the direction towards emergence of evolutionary sustainability.