Many organizations fail to recognize the growing complexity within their information systems and face persistent challenges in managing it effectively. Even with system integrations or architecture program initiatives, outcomes frequently fall short of expectations. This is highlighted in the doctoral research of Erik Jochemsen.
Erik Jochemsen investigated how organizations can gain control over their increasingly complex information systems. Attempts to simplify these systems, for example through standardisation, often backfire because a complete reduction of complexity is impossible in a dynamic environment.
Jochemsen therefore introduces the concept of shifting complexity. He demonstrates that interventions often don't eliminate complexity, but shift it: a decrease in one area often leads to an increase elsewhere. By recognizing these shifts and utilizing multiple perspectives, organizations can make their IT landscapes more robust and adaptive, instead of fighting against inevitable complexity.