Complex Systems Science

A Complex System is defined as a set of different types of element that are in dynamic interaction and evolve. It is easy to understand the definition. Incorporating and taking into account the characteristics of a complex system is less simple. Without a conscious understanding of what complexity is and what it implicates concretely, one lives complexity as a curse to suffer passively. But being aware of what complexity means comes only either after a long experience or, quicker, after a learning. DoLquest is a wonderful mean to acquire the understanding and the knowledge of complexity. Hence, to be able to surf on it and take advantage of all its opportunities.

The Complex System is not linear, it is not governed by cause and effect, it cannot be controlled and it is not possible to know its ‘output’ in advance. The main characteristics of a Complex System are its dynamics, evolution, self-regulation, internal energy, autonomy, emergence and, through the eyes of yesterday’s world, uncertainty, and consequently infinite possibilities.

Our brain is doubtless the most complex system that exists.

The brain is not a machine and does not follow a cause and effect rationale. It is not and cannnot be a super Artificial Intelligence, it is intricated with a body and its interactions. It is not a prefabricated chest-of-drawers on which one just needs to open a drawer to take out the object sought. Neuroscientific marketing is in this sense quite absurd. How would it be possible to reduce the complexity of dynamic interactions in the brain to an underground train map, even a Japanese one, when a single neurone has on average 10,000 synaptic connections? And the brain has around 100 billion neurones? And almost as many glial cells? And the possibility of creating synapses is infinite, at any age?

Therefore, for example, the image of the memory as storage of the past does not take into account the dynamics of this complex system. The memory is first of all a projection into the future before being storage of the past. Another example is that each brain is formed in a unique way, based on each person’s individual interactions.

DoLquest takes this complexity into account and draws on it. Finding the meaning of complexity and plasticity therefore enables the person to find room for manoeuvre and to be more at ease in an environment with growing complexity.

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Systemics, the System approach

The system approach is often opposed to the analytical approach. Such as specialisation vs totality, cause and effect vs retroactivity, reduction-control vs relationship or THE solution vs the possibilities. But the system approach encompasses the analytical approach and goes beyond it. Systemic approach favours first the system overview.

Historically, the System approach emerged after a long period during which a school of thought dominated that favoured the most rational aspect of science, the period of the Enlightenment in the 18th century. The System approach emerged in Europe with figures such as Ferdinand de Saussure, Roman Jakobson, Roberto Assagioli. It gained momentum in the United States in two areas, applied to science (such as biology with Ludwig Von Bertalanffy or Norbert Wiener and the creation of Cybernetics) and applied to humanity with the Palo Alto School (Paul Watzlawick, Gregory Bateson and Will Schutz).

The system approach sees the person as a whole and part of a whole. It examines the internal and external links and interactions and incorporates the effects resulting from decisions. It takes into account the context and sees life as constantly evolving.

The classic DoLquest debrief incorporates the key elements of systemics and situates the profile in a comprehensive approach to the person. DoLquest Experts also have the possibility of learning to get acquainted with the main concepts of Systemics according to the DoLquest profile. They then have the possibility of offering their clients a specific debrief: ‘Learning Systemics through my DoLquest profile’.

Neuroscience

The purpose of neuroscience is scientific knowledge of the brain’s operation. Its aim is to analyse and understand the internal mechanisms, behaviours, reactions and evolution of the human being.

For DoLquest, it is essential to take Neuroscience into account to explain better how each person works. But this must be done with a specific, twofold aim: 1- having all the information in order to understand oneself and understand others on a neuroscientific basis, 2- immediately placing this in the complexity of the system that produces it, i.e. the brain.

To take a concrete example, it is certainly important to know and understand how the bases of our brain work, such as the Reptilian, Limbic and Cortical brains, but this is not enough to render the intelligence and complexity of the profile. As our intelligence is mainly based on the synapses and interactions of our brain, DoLquest draws on the internal and external interactions of the profile and creates the conditions for the person to be aware of them.

Therefore there are two debrief levels for a DoLquest profile. In the first one, the person recognises themselves. And this is a significant moment. In the second, the person becomes aware of their uniqueness, their own internal and external interactions and their effects. And this is a lasting moment, the start of a journey. Theirs.

DoLquest was designed to support coaching missions. The Expert DoLquest posture is that of the Professional Coach and DoLquest is aligned with the professional Ethics of Coaching. DoLquest is an active support for the Coach, especially for:

• Getting straight to the essential, “more quickly, more deeply”
• With a clear, in-depth diagnosis without any value judgements,
• Gaining awareness of interactions between oneself and the world and their consequences,
• Seeing one’s personal Profile in a dynamic, evolutionary manner,
• To appropriate what makes one different and one’s added value,
• Gain access to the formalisation of its internal decision-making and resourcing mechanisms,
• Understanding what can cause loss of energy or control,
• Discover one’s potential,
• Be aware of the image that one portrays and its impacts,
• Get to know one’s management style and leadership style,
• Open up the field of possibilities.

From Switzerland, originally in French and then Italian, of Latin culture and developed in Europe, it reflects the idea of the individual, of synthesis and depth. It is thus particularly relevant and effective in complex multicultural environments. It has also benefited from scientific contributions, the systems science and neuroscience, to allow it to reflect both the uniqueness and universality of each person.

The images on this site are all from Giotto de Bondone and come manly from the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua. This is not only to acknowledge the origins of DoLquest. This is mostly to pay tribute to the fourteenth century Italian painter, as he initiated a revolution in the way of seeing the world. He (re)introduced putting things into perspective. He raised awareness about depth. Finally, he innovatively distinguished people’s faces and thus highlighted the uniqueness of each person.

Our epoch seems to be of the same nature, with its growing complexity, its paradigm shifts and its renewed creativity. DoLquest, for its time and its capacity, hopes to be located in the same line: in an epoch where rules are redefined, awareness is gained of each person and their otherness, where we help develop new perspectives for the individual, the team and the organisation.

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The DoLquest name

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“DoL”
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Comes from Sanskrit. An imperceptible – not yet visible – movement, the start of something, which sets in motion transformation, evolution.
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“queste” “quest”
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Comes from Latin and Ancient French. It has the same signification as our « quest » in English. To look for, to search, to evolve through the search, to question and the pursuit of knowledge.
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DoLquest is actually a “questionnaire” and not a “test”. It supports people’s development. It does not evaluate competences, it does not classify people into pre-established boxes. DoLquest highlights the unique profile and unique potentialities.

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Its logo, the constellation

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This represents the plasticity of our brains with synapses and a constellation of the universe. As the infinitely small joins the infinitely big (Xuan-Thuan Trinh, Astrophysicist), as everything above is like everything below (Tabula Smaragdina).

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The (alpha, sign of the infinity) of the plasticity and potential of our brain. The ? of the constellations and universes in which we are immersed.
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The possibility of each, with DoLquest, to understand one’s own system, in constellation with that of others.
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The network is composed of over 300 high-level trained and certified Experts. It works on a learning network.

It is made up of 98% high-level Professional Coaches.

The core team of DoLquest Trainers and coTrainers has 10 members.

The DoLquest Academy Programme reserved to Certified Experts, provides more than 20 activities divided into 4 categories.

DoLquest has over 6 million possible combinations as each questionnaire yields a unique profile.

Within the community of high-level Professional Coaches, DoLquest is considered by far the number 1 support to accompany the development of people and teams in systemic  coaching mode.

DoLquest and its Certification Programme are recognised and accredited by the ICF. Founded in 1995 in the USA, the ICF is the world’s leading international coaching association.

With several thousand profiles, in several hundred companies, the Questionnaire DoLquest is available in 7 languages and has been used in 21 countries.