Discussion Paper: "Surprise, Surprise, Surprise! A Complexity Science View of the Unexpected"

Introduction
Traditionally it has been thought that "surprises can and should be avoided with more knowledge, better planning, and / or better systems design". While some surprises can be avoided as a result of the above mentioned measures, the authors argue that surprise is inherent in complex systems and thus cannot be avoided entirely. Furthermore, since surprises are a natural part of complex adaptive systems, they should be embraced as possible avenues of opportunity for creativity, learning and growth.
Since we have yet to develop a foundation for this class on which to base this…