A complexity approach to knowledge and research: on the methodology of the complex responsive processes perspective

The methodological position of the theory of complex responsive processes is outlined as being founded in a radical process view of human action, a very different approach than the dominating orientation in organizational research, which is systemic thinking. The complex responsive processes perspective takes movement (the process of stability and change) to be its prime object of research. Movement cannot be captured in time, only accounted for by those who experience movement. It can only be found in experience. It is not my intention to give a full account of the theory here, only point to some aspects which I think are important for understanding the methodological position of the theory. These aspects are time, process, agency and subjectivity. By holding these aspects in relation to more traditional outlines of methodological positions, it is shown that they are not explicitly addressed in these contexts. This in turn creates difficulties for placing the complex responsive processes perspective within established definitions. Thus, this paper constitutes a critique against such established views for being drawn out in a particular tradition without this being explicitly accounted for. At the same time this critique and the shift of attention towards the other aspects mentioned, is meant as a contrast for constructively clarifying the methodological position of the complex responsive processes perspective.