摘要：This paper seeks to understand the dynamics of career systems by exploring how thestudy of other complex systems can shed light on the complex careers that are becom-ing increasingly the norm. We begin by defining career systems as a set of work rolesand the influx of people occupying those roles, within an organization or in "boundary-less" industries. Then, we explain numerous patterns in career systems¡ªdescribed as"self-organization"¡ªthrough rigorous metaphors drawn from studies of "self-organizedcriticality" (Bak, 1995) and adaptation in interconnected networks (Kauffman, 1993).Implications for strategic human resource management and careers research are iden-tified
