Analysing Complexity from Coursera

The first course of the specialization ANALYZING COMPLEXITY will teach you what unifying patterns lie at the core of all complex problems. It advances your knowledge of your own field by teaching you to look at it in new ways.

ANALYZING COMPLEXITY is constructed in the following way: Week I. "What is Complexity?" - What is at the core of all complex problems Week II. "Complex Physical Systems" - What complex problems all have in common in the inanimate world Week III. "Complex Adaptive Systems" - What complex problems all have in common in nature Week IV. "Complex Cultural Systems" - What complex problems all have in common in human society Week V. "Complexity, Fragility, and Breakdown" - Why complex problems arise Week VI. "Complexity in the Anthropocene" - What complex problems face us today

What's inside

Syllabus

What is complexity?

Welcome to the first course of our specialisation on solving complex problems! In this module, we will be looking at complexity in the broadest sense and how it relates to us. From there we will zoom in to different aspects of this universal and all-encompassing concept.

Complex Physical Systems

In this module, we'll look at how complexity operates in the inanimate universe, the corresponding links between physics, chemistry, and geology and how they reflect the ground rules of all forms of complexity.

Complex Adaptive Systems

In this module, we'll explore the ratcheting up of complexity inside adaptive systems, and the impact adaptation has on the rules of the game for constantly evolving complex systems.

Complex Cultural Systems

In this module, we'll look at an even more powerful adaptive system - culture. We'll survey what is at the root of this new form of complexity and how this impacts our thinking about how human society, the most complex system of which we are aware, functions and evolves.

Complexity, Fragility, and Breakdown

In this module, we'll look at the decline of complexity. So far we've focused on how complex systems sustain or increase themselves. In order to truly understand every angle of all complex systems - physical, biological, and cultural - we need to understand how and when they collapse, and what all those breakdowns have in common.

Complexity in the Anthropocene

Now that we've explored the different kinds of complex systems and have some idea of the risks and dangers involved, this module will look at how these concerns impact us in the present Anthropocene epoch, where humanity faces many threats of decline and collapse amid the most complex system that we know of in the visible universe.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores different aspects of complexity, which is a universal concept applicable to various fields

Taught by Professor Iain Hay, who is involved in high-level research on complexity

Develops problem-solving skills by examining the underlying patterns of complex problems

Examines complexity in physical systems, providing a strong foundation in physics, chemistry, and geology

Delves into complex adaptive systems, exploring adaptation's impact on the evolution of complex systems

Surveys different types of complex systems, including physical, biological, and cultural systems

Reviews summary

Thought-provoking complexity analysis

Learners say this thought-provoking course offers a transdisciplinary and practical insight into the complexity that is found in natural and artificial systems. The course's engaging videos, readings, and resources serve as valuable tools and frameworks for comprehending the world through the lens of complexity.

Incorporates the study of 'Big History' to contextualize complexity.

"A fascinating course about complexity. The transdicisplinary approach is amazing."

"I've always valued the concept of history and how it helps us to make more informed decisions for the future."

"The scope of the course is wonderful: big history tracking lines of development of life on Earth and the evolution of the Anthropocene."

Provides frameworks for understanding complexity across different disciplines.

"The course gives us new tools and new frameworks to look and understand the world."

"Beautiful compact introduction to aspects of complexity in variety of desciplines"

"The videos and extra resources (readings, videos, audios) add a lot of extra value to the course."

Introduces practical methods for analyzing complexity in various systems.

"Amazing course, a compleately new perspective for starting ro define and see problems,"

"This course has enabled me to think deeply about how natural and artificial systems behave similarly"

"Great course. Gave me a good understanding of Complexity and how it rules our universe and our lives."

Examples used to illustrate complexity may not be accessible to all learners.

"Course material seems to be an advertisement for the Big History program."

"If you aren't familiar with biology/atomic structures, then the lesson is easily lost due to the chosen example."

Involves peer review as a learning tool, but some find it could be improved.

"The peer review could be more organised"

"The waiting for someone to grade your final assignment is very long."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Analysing Complexity with these activities:

Review the mathematics you'll need for the course. Start with a refresher on basic probability and statistics

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This activity will get you back up to speed on the math concepts you need to understand complex systems.

Browse courses on Algebra

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Review your notes from previous math courses.
Do some practice problems.
Take a practice quiz.

Read "Complexity: A Guided Tour" by Melanie Mitchell.

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This book provides a comprehensive overview of the field of complexity science, which is essential for understanding the course material.

View Inteligencia artificial: Guía para seres... on Amazon

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Read the book.
Take notes.
Discuss the book with your classmates.

Create a digital notebook where you keep notes from the lectures, readings, and discussions.

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This will help you stay organized and keep track of all the material in the course.

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Create a new notebook in your preferred note-taking app.
Divide the notebook into sections for each week of the course.
Add notes from the lectures, readings, and discussions to the appropriate sections.

Six other activities

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The instructor has created many supplementary videos that explain the course concepts in more detail. Check several out.

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These videos will help you understand the course material more deeply.

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Watch the videos.
Take notes.
Ask questions in the discussion forum.

Do the practice problems at the end of each chapter in the textbook.

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These problems will help you test your understanding of the material and identify areas where you need more practice.

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Read the chapter.
Do the practice problems.
Check your answers.

Form a study group with other students in the course.

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This will give you a chance to discuss the course material with other students and get help with any concepts you're struggling with.

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Find other students who are interested in forming a study group.
Decide on a time and place to meet.
Discuss the course material.

Create a mind map or concept map of the course material.

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This will help you visualize the relationships between the different concepts in the course.

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Identify the main concepts in the course.
Create a mind map or concept map that shows the relationships between the concepts.

Create a presentation on a topic related to the course material.

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This will help you deepen your understanding of the material and communicate your knowledge to others.

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Choose a topic.
Research your topic.
Create your presentation.
Present your presentation.

Create a collection of resources on the course topic.

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This will give you a valuable resource that you can use to review the material and learn more about the topic.

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Identify relevant resources.
Organize the resources into a collection.

Career center

Learners who complete Analysing Complexity will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Operations Research Analyst

As an Operations Research Analyst, you will study and analyze complex systems in a variety of industries, including healthcare, transportation, logistics, and manufacturing. The course 'Analysing Complexity' will provide a strong foundation in the methodologies and techniques used by Operations Research Analysts, helping you to understand how to identify and solve complex problems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Research Analyst

Data Scientist

Data Scientists use their knowledge of mathematics, statistics, and computer science to analyze and interpret large datasets. The course 'Analysing Complexity' will help you to build a foundation in the data science process, including data collection, analysis, and interpretation. This course will also introduce you to the ethical considerations of data science, which is an increasingly important topic in today's world.

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Business Analyst

Business Analysts help organizations to improve their business processes and operations. The course 'Analysing Complexity' will introduce you to the tools and techniques used by Business Analysts, and will help you to develop the skills needed to identify and solve complex business problems. This course will also provide you with a strong understanding of the business environment, which is essential for success in this role.

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Management Consultant

Management Consultants help organizations to solve complex problems and improve their performance. The course 'Analysing Complexity' will provide you with a strong foundation in the analytical and problem-solving skills needed to succeed in this role. This course will also introduce you to the different types of consulting projects, and the ethical considerations that consultants must be aware of.

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Systems Analyst

Systems Analysts design, develop, and implement computer systems. The course 'Analysing Complexity' will provide you with a strong foundation in the principles of systems analysis and design. This course will also introduce you to the different types of systems analysis tools and techniques, and the ethical considerations that systems analysts must be aware of.

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Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, and test software systems. The course 'Analysing Complexity' will provide you with a strong foundation in the principles of software engineering. This course will also introduce you to the different types of software development tools and techniques, and the ethical considerations that software engineers must be aware of.

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Computer Scientist

Computer Scientists research and develop new computer systems and technologies. The course 'Analysing Complexity' will provide you with a strong foundation in the principles of computer science. This course will also introduce you to the different types of computer science research and development projects, and the ethical considerations that computer scientists must be aware of.

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Operations Manager

Operations Managers plan and oversee the day-to-day operations of an organization. The course 'Analysing Complexity' will provide you with a strong foundation in the principles of operations management. This course will also introduce you to the different types of operations management tools and techniques, and the ethical considerations that operations managers must be aware of.

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Project Manager

Project Managers plan and execute projects. The course 'Analysing Complexity' may be helpful for Project Managers, as it will introduce you to the different types of project management tools and techniques, and the ethical considerations that project managers must be aware of.

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Quality Assurance Analyst

Quality Assurance Analysts test and evaluate the quality of software and other products. The course 'Analysing Complexity' may be helpful for Quality Assurance Analysts, as it will introduce you to the different types of quality assurance tools and techniques, and the ethical considerations that quality assurance analysts must be aware of.

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Information Security Analyst

Information Security Analysts protect computer systems and networks from security threats. The course 'Analysing Complexity' may be helpful for Information Security Analysts, as it will introduce you to the different types of information security tools and techniques, and the ethical considerations that information security analysts must be aware of.

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Network Administrator

Network Administrators manage and maintain computer networks. The course 'Analysing Complexity' may be helpful for Network Administrators, as it will introduce you to the different types of network administration tools and techniques, and the ethical considerations that network administrators must be aware of.

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Database Administrator

Database Administrators manage and maintain databases. The course 'Analysing Complexity' may be helpful for Database Administrators, as it will introduce you to the different types of database administration tools and techniques, and the ethical considerations that database administrators must be aware of.

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Computer Support Specialist

Computer Support Specialists provide technical support to computer users. The course 'Analysing Complexity' may be helpful for Computer Support Specialists, as it will introduce you to the different types of computer support tools and techniques, and the ethical considerations that computer support specialists must be aware of.

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Technical Writer

Technical Writers create and edit technical documentation. The course 'Analysing Complexity' may be helpful for Technical Writers, as it will introduce you to the different types of technical writing tools and techniques, and the ethical considerations that technical writers must be aware of.

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