Glossary Terms

General agreement that something is satisfactory or right, or that someone should be included in a group. (Source: Cambridge)

The quality or state of being actionable (capable of being acted on). (Source: Merriam-Webster)

The process of changing to suit different conditions. (Source: Cambridge)

Marked by ready ability to move with quick easy grace (Source: Merriam Webster)

To understand fully. To recognize the full worth of. To recognize the full implications of. (Source: Merriam-Webster)

Systematic or logical connection or consistency; integration of diverse elements, relationships, or values. (Source: Merriam-Webster)

A promise or firm decision to do something. (Source: Cambridge)

Is based on the idea that an organization emerges in and is sustained and transformed by communication. (Source: Wiley Online Library)

Complexity Science is an interdisciplinary field—at the intersection of mathematics, computer science, and natural science—that focuses on discrete models of physical and social systems. In particular, it...focuses on complex systems, which are systems with many interacting components. (Source: Allen B. Downey, Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering, 2012)

Comprehend means to gain an ability to do something with a term; to grasp the term, to realize its worth and potential, and to follow that term across different intellectual streams of thought (Source: Dr. James R Barker).

The act or process of forming an idea or principle in your mind. (Source: Cambridge)

A feeling that you understand, like, and are interested in someone or something. (Source: Cambridge)

An assemblage, collection, or group of usually related persons, qualities, or things. (Source: Merriam-Webster)

Is the happening, existing, living, or coming into being during the same period of time. (Source: Merriam-Webster)

1. Context analysis is a method to analyze the environment in which a business operates. (Source: Wikipedia)

2. The history or current exigencies or constraints in a situation. (Source: Dr. James R Barker)

The action of saying that someone or something is not good or important. (Source: Merriam-Webster)

A situation in which a choice has to be made between possibilities that will all have results you do not want. (Source: Cambridge)

The action of preventing something, especially a system, process, or event, from continuing as usual or as expected. (Source: Cambridge)

The fact of many different types of things or people being included in something; a range of different things or people. (Source: Cambridge)

Characterized by or given to the expression of opinions very strongly or positively as if they were facts. (Source: Merriam-Webster)

1. Something that you accept as true without question or proof (Source: Cambridge)

2. Useful assumptions that you can draw from your analysis of a situation for sense-making (Source: Dr. James R Barker).

The distinguishing character, sentiment, moral nature, or guiding beliefs of a person, group, or institution. (Source: Merriam-Webster)

Good knowledge of something, or the fact that you know it so well. (Source: Cambridge)

The quality or state of being faithful. (Source: Merriam-Webster)

Is a science investigating general laws for arbitrarily complex arrangements—“systems”—which constitute functional integrities. (Source: Science Direct)

A way of solving problems by discovering things yourself and learning from your own experiences. (Source: Cambridge)

To put something into use or action officially. (Source: Cambridge)

Infinite (Adjective): Emphasizing that it is extremely great in amount or degree. Potential (unaccountable noun): That they have the necessary abilities or qualities to become successful or useful in the future. (Source: Collins Dictionary)

A new idea, method, or device; the introduction of something new. (Source: Merriam-Webster)

The state of having different parts or things connected or related to each other. (Source: Cambridge)

The state of being dependent upon one another: mutual dependence. (Source: Merriam-Webster)

Having a mutual or reciprocal relation. (Source: Merriam Webster)

To be a route or means of access for a particular direction; the initiative in an action. (Source: Oxford Learners)

1. An act or instance of leading; guidance; direction (Source: Dictionary.com)

2. Is communicative action that moves the organizational system forward in a positive way (Source: Dr. James R Barker).

The act or experience of one that learns; knowledge or skill acquired by instruction or study people of good education and considerable learning; Modification of a behavioral tendency by experience. (Source: Merriam-Webster)

A natural feeling that makes people know what is right and wrong and how they should behave. (Source: Cambridge)

Something that must happen because it is the right thing. (Source: Macmillan)

To progress or develop in a particular way. (Source: MacMillan)

The organization or the people involved in the situation moving forward/creating value (Source: Dr. James R Barker).

1. To understand how individuals experience certain events, structure them into coherent sequences, and give them subjective meaning. (Source: APA Dictionary)

2. The dominant narrative of a situation that is shaping meaning construction (Source: Dr. James R Barker).

The ways in which established narratives can shape our social and subjective experiences. (Source: Dictionary.com)

To make operational; put into operation. (Source: Collins Dictionary)

The act of making something as good as possible. (Source: Cambridge)

1. Organizational communication is a process through which people construct, manage, and interpret behaviors and symbols (whether verbal or nonverbal), both intentionally and unintentionally, through interaction (mediated or direct), within and across particular organizational contexts. (Source: Encyclopedia.com)

2. "The communication that happens within organizations…to examine and improve the fundamental social processes of organizing that create and sustain the main systems and institutions of our society." (Source: Matthew Koschmann, 2022)

Organizational complexity is defined as the amount of differentiation that exists within different elements constituting the organization. (Source: Research Gate)

The different knowledge and skills that the employees of a large company or organization have, and how these can be used and shared to make the organization more effective. (Source: Cambridge)

Movement is everything; movement requires direction, generation, and adaptation; managers create conditions for successful movement to occur. (Source: Dr. James R Barker)

To move repeatedly from one position to another. (Source: Cambridge)

An idea, a belief, or an image you have as a result of how you see or understand something. (Source: Oxford Learners)

Persuasion can be a powerful force that affects the decisions and actions that people take. It is a process in which one person or entity tries to influence another person or group of people to change their beliefs or behaviors. (Source: Verywellmind)

A way of doing something that is the usual or expected way in a particular organization or situation. (Source: Oxford Learners)

Corresponding in size, degree, or intensity; having the same or a constant ratio. (Source: Cambridge)

The condition of being successful or thriving. (Source: Merriam-Webster)

To do something or try to achieve something over a period of time. (Source: Oxford Learners)

The belief or principle that actions and opinions should be based on reason rather than on emotion or religion. (Source: Cambridge)

Act with good judgment, act correctly for the situation at hand. (Source: Cambridge)

Of, relating to, or concerned with the art of speaking or writing formally and effectively, especially as a way to persuade or influence people. (Source: Britannica Dictionary)

The state of being morally or legally correct. (Source: Cambridge)

Risk awareness is the recognition of the potential for hazards, risks, and incidents that occur within the business environment and result in harm to the business. (Source: Oxford University Scholarship)

A situation in which something is not easy to find or get. (Source: Cambridge)

"Simply it is making sense and creating structure out of the unknown...Sense making involves making sense out of things that are unseen or sometimes avoided such as shifting markets, technologies, politics, culture and climate change...sense making is what turns thoughts into action...sense making is a tool that you can use to tackle issues like safety operations and functional teamwork...". (Source: J.Ngai, 2015)

Possessed of or displaying skill. (Source: Merriam-Webster)

Is a branch of architecture where designers use people-centric research and design goals to implement design strategies in their projects. We are looking at ideas such as place-making, communal spaces, understanding behaviours, and co-creation. (Source: Archlogbook)

Is a psychological concept relating to the tendency for the presence of others to improve a person's performance on a task. (Source: Verywellmind.com)

Stakeholder analysis is the process of assessing a system and potential changes to it as they relate to relevant and interested parties. (Source: Wikipedia)

The process of making objects or activities of the same type have the same features or qualities; the process of making something standard. (Source: Oxford Learners)

The quality of being able to continue over a period of time. (Source: Cambridge)

in a way that can continue over a period of time (Source: Cambridge)

"A set of theoretical concepts used to describe a wide variety of thing in terms of a model called a system." (Source: System Innovations, 2014)

"A systems approach looks at the whole organism, not the little pieces of the machine, but how it all fits together as a whole. So, the goal of the systems approach is to describe and explain how organizations work." (Source: Alex Lyon, 2017)

Something real and not imaginary; able to be shown, touched, or experienced. (Source: Cambridge)

The support or interest that is needed for something to make progress or succeed. (Source: Merriam-Webster)

The idea that a company's performance must be measured not only in relation to profits, but also to its effect on the environment and society as a whole. (Source: Cambridge)

Having a beneficial use; serviceable; Being of practical use. (Source: The American Heritage)

The ability to work as intended or to succeed. (Source: Cambridge)

The ability to make sensible decisions and give good advice because of the experience and knowledge that you have. (Source: Oxford Learners)