MarionUhl-Bien2003

Marion, R., & Uhl-Bien, M. (2003). Complexity theory and Al Qaeda: Examining complex leadership. Emergence: A Journal of Complexity Issues in Organization and Management, 5(1), 54-76.

Reports on propositions regarding complexity and complex leadership, and illustrates them using the case of terrorist organization al-Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden. Structure of al-Qaeda; Role of relationships, and shared vision and mission in the success of a networked system; Proposition of the complexity theory; Differences between complex leadership and traditional models of leadership; Role of leaders who could directly help consolidate its structure and identity in aggregation of al-Qaeda.