In this proposal, Complex Thinking is defined both as (Melo, 2020):
A mode (or process) of coupling
Complex thinking as a process that is sustained by a set of practices that simultaneously:
(i) attend to (describing, explaining, predicting) and adjust to the complexity of (a selected part of) the world (the system of interest) and the properties that sustain its complexity (as recognised by given communities of observers at a given point in time); and
(ii) enact such properties as contributions to the coupling relationship;
An outcome of coupling
Complex thinking as an outcome generates:
(i) a multiplicity of descriptions, explanations and anticipations as well as a framework for their integration;
(ii) meaningful emergent novel information, translated as differences that makes a difference (Bateson 1979) in the observer, the target system and/or their coupling relationship towards increased coherence and complexity;
(iii) a variety of possibilities of action for promoting, supporting or managing change in both the observer, the world, and their subsequent coupling relation, guiding choices that build
(iv) constructive interactions and positive co-evolving relationships capable of sustaining positive outcomes for the observer, the target system and their environments, as agreed by a set of critical observers (entities either involved and/or more or less directly affected by the outcomes).