Cognitive Complexity and Creativity

On understanding the challenge of identifying, interpreting and acting on those impulses. Jose Baldaia in Intuinovare (hat tip Greg Satell):

"The term “cognitive complexity” is used in psychology as the ability to process information that is not well defined and internally consistent, such as knowledge relevant to ill-structured problems.

Usually worth the effort to try to transform an ill-structured problem in one or more well-structured problems, but even with the most competent and diligent efforts, there seems to be residual differences irreconcilable.

If we are faced with complex problems and seek their resolution we must be aware whether or not we are up to its resolution.

This is because a person who is rich in conceptual complexity perceives the world in a multidimensional and flexible at the same time considering different viewpoints, and yet still manages to integrate all information into a single perspective.

If we are a person who is low in conceptual complexity tends to reject information that does not fit within the strict pre-established structures and tends to be submissive to authority.

When we think about solving problems, we think of creativity, but usually do not refer specifically to any of its possible forms. Policastro and Gardner suggest a distribution that is useful for framing some issues.

Thus creativity can come in the form of a solution of a problem or a discovery, but can also refer to the construction of a set of concepts that represent existing data at any given time, and to their organization in a way that illuminates and points to new directions.

The creation of permanent works in a symbolic system, as is the case of works of art, or performance of a ritual work like a symphony or even a game of high-performance, for example, sporting events or political activities, are also forms of creativity.

Each of these creative ways is strongly associated with particular areas and particular disciplines.

We can see that, when people try to integrate their diverse knowledge sources in solutions that leverage synergies, is the intersection of a complex set of factors from various domains that will give the answer.

Concepts such as team, group cohesion, cognitive complexity, creativity, decision making and many more t interact and influence each other in very complex fashion.

How to get an integrated perspective on this phenomenon that allows the different disciplines are used to construct a more useful?

Peter Drucker wrote: “The modern leader is more like an orchestra conductor.”

Conductors cannot play their instruments better than the members of the orchestra. Its value lies in its ability to conduct the musicians for a great performance. Conductors are rich in conceptual complexity.

Likewise, a leader currently uses this ability to steer various experts in a process that produces a successful project.

The complexity of modern problems cannot be managed through the sum of individual efforts. It requires people of diverse backgrounds and various levels to work together, which of course requires great effort of teamwork.

However, if we take one of the complex problems facing us today and deconstruct, never lose the image of the whole, we are taking the first step towards its resolution