When a series of systems is embedded, one within another according to a common pattern, it is called a recursive structure.
In a such a structure, the same features are repeated invariantly from a system to its metasystem to its metasystem as in a set of Russian dolls or Chinese boxes. Human organizations are often organized recursively. In primitive societies, the individual, the family and the tribe are typical recursions. In a business, the levels of recursion might run the individual, the work group, the department, the operation, the division and so on.
Complex systems, including human beings and organizations, are commonly **embedded in many different recursive structures depending on the frame of reference** chosen by the observer. As well as the family, an individual may belong to a business, a sports team, a chamber orchestra or a church. An organization may belong to an industry, a community, a supply chain and so on. These may be structures in which formal authority is exercised, but also include other criteria including level of abstraction, scope of interest or even geographical jurisdictions.
The recursive quality of human and other systems is **basic to handling variety and building models**. Some models, such as Beer's Viable System Model, are explicitly based on recursivity. The invariance of the dynamic aspects of these systems makes it possible to analyze them level by level and to look for trouble spots.
# SOURCE Recursive number theory has provided the mathematical description of these relationships. Some computer languages, LISP in particular, make use of recursive processes such as subroutines that call themselves. The word comes from ’recur'.
# EXAMPLES • a government department, such as health, which is repeated at the county, state, national and international levels • a professional society from local chapter to international convention • the automotive industry • in the natural environment, the progression from micro environments (e.g. a sheltered southern exposure on a hill) to regions • in fractal geometry, the repeating patterns from pebbles on the beach to an satellite photograph of the coastline • a university with its departments, divisions, schools and colleges
# NON-EXAMPLES • a one off event • a network of decision makers (see redundancy of potential command • a collection of businesses under a single ownership without a coherent organizational structure • a self-organizing system (Marc Pierson--I think that some self organizing systems, many in fact, are recursive.)
# PROBABLE ERROR • Assuming a higher recursion to be based on seniority rather than comprehensiveness of language and purpose • not having clear criteria for assigning functions to the appropriate level of recursion.
# SEE Hierarchy; Metasystem; Viable System Model