title: Directing: a complex systems perspective.
abstract: As systems evolve over time, their natural tendency is to become increasingly more complex. Studies in the field of complex systems have generated new perspectives on managing in social organizations such as hospitals. Much of this research appears as a natural extension of the cross-disciplinary field of systems theory. This is the third in a 5-part series on applying complex systems science to the traditional management concepts of planning, organizing, directing, coordinating, and controlling. In this article, the concept of directing is explored from a complex systems perspective.
authors.affiliation: Mercy Hospital, Iowa City, 500 East Market Street, Iowa City, IA 52240, USA. tom.clancy@mercyic.org
authors.forename: Thomas R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Clancy
mesh_terms: D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D009718:Nurse Administrators; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration; D013192:Staff Development; D013598:Systems Theory