Caring for Complex Systems: We Can Do This

Professionals are adept at analysis, which is effective for understanding simple or complicated systems where parts can be mastered and controlled. However, complex systems, characterized by learning, change, and dynamic relationships, require the skill of sense-making, a natural human ability to form ideas and understand systems through observation and discussion. Unlike analysis that promises control, sense-making is about forming theories, asking questions, and gaining a good-enough understanding to influence outcomes, as illustrated by examples in team dynamics and software development. In software, readable and testable code supports analysis, while observable code aids sense-making by providing insights through traces and queries. Both analysis and sense-making are crucial for software development, with the former being a learned skill and the latter a natural human trait that can be honed, allowing for better navigation and influence within complex systems.