Collapse of Complex Societies by Dr. Joseph Tainter

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Why leaders watch it

Thesis that rising complexity yields diminishing returns until organizations can't afford it, a caution for leaders adding process and structure.

Joseph Tainter lectures at a 2010 sustainability conference on why complex societies such as Rome collapse. His thesis is that rising complexity brings diminishing returns until societies cannot afford to maintain it.

Takeaways

• Complexity has diminishing returns
• Rising costs can outweigh benefits
• Simplify before the cost becomes unaffordable

Topics: Systems thinking & complexity, Change & transformation

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