Title: Forensic complexity

Authors: Van Brewer; Adrian Gheorghe

Addresses: Old Dominion Research Foundation, Suite 406 (NCSOSE), 4111 Monarch Way, Norfolk, VA 23508 USA. ' Batten Chair of Systems Engineering, Department of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering, 242C Kaufman Hall, Norfolk, Virginia 23529 USA

Abstract: This note introduces forensic complexity as a multidisciplinary approach to the study of comprehension in complex situations in order to enable justifiable action. The term itself seems paradoxical when viewed as analysis of the unpredictable or irreducible. The paradox is resolved by the adoption of an internally consistent perspective for complex situations referred to as a complex situations paradigm (Brewer, 2010), based on the pragmatic idealism of Sousa-Poza and Correa-Martinez (2005). This paradigm shifts the perspective from complexity to the nature of complexity (e.g., a meta-discussion), providing a basis to discuss analysis of characteristics of complexity with respect to decision making. A brief review of complexity provides the elements to incorporate the relationships essential to understanding and decision making processes. This is followed by a précis of the complex situations paradigm, which frames the proposed definition of forensic complexity. This concept provides a basis for continued dialog, and invites further multidisciplinary research.

Keywords: forensic complexity; complex situations; paradigm; decision making; multidisciplinary research.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSE.2011.043865

International Journal of System of Systems Engineering, 2011 Vol.2 No.4, pp.347 - 355

Published online: 16 Oct 2014 *

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