Scaling-up innovations using complexity paradigm and agent-based modelling method
by Junsong Huang
International Journal of Complexity in Leadership and Management (IJCLM), Vol. 1, No. 2, 2011

Abstract: In pursuing innovation scaling-up in educational contexts, school leaders tend to adopt top-down approaches grounded in the Newtonian paradigm. This paper argues that the scaling-up of pedagogical innovations can be studied using the complexity paradigm regarding innovation scaling-up as a complex adaptive process that is non-linear, adaptive and emerging. Current research methods, while informative, have limitations in dealing with complex adaptive processes that evolve dynamically in temporal and spatial dimensions. To this end, this paper proposes the use of agent-based modelling (ABM) as a complementary method, which is particularly helpful for school leaders in exploring innovation scaling-up patterns in 'what if' scenarios. This paper also cautions that ABM approach can be used to inform school leaders in scaling-up strategy-making, but the simulation outcomes should not be treated at face value.

Online publication date: Wed, 22-Oct-2014

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