In introducing this first volume of a series exploring issues in managing complexity, Richardson (Institute for the Study of Coherence and Emergence) contends that no one has yet developed a reliable skill set for learning from the "noise" of complex systems. In 30 papers, multidisciplinary international contributors analyze complex organizations, characterized as open systems with nonlinear relationships, from diverse paradigms including evolutionary philosophy and enterprise self-reproduction. Applications, illustrated in case studies, include group decision support systems and a transition strategy model.