Improving problem solving capabilities in concurrent engineering via knowledge transformation & six complexity science principles

The six complexity science principles defined in this paper were introduced to employees in knowledge intensive, high-tech firms in a way that facilitated the transformation of implicit knowledge to explicit knowledge and which in turn supported problem solving processes and helped those involved respond to uncertainty. This was manifested by the way they were able to identify, understand and contrive possible explanations of their context specific problems through the language and insight provided by the six complexity principles. These results show that the knowledge transformation process initiated through interdependent learning about the 6 complexity science principles had a significant impact for case companies in terms of improving and increasing their problem solving capabilities.