Every complex system encompasses difference. One part of the system will be different in some way than other parts of the system. The area of distinction between the differing parts of a complex system is called a boundary. The boundary is not imposed from outside the system, rather it emerges because of differences within the system itself. The boundary becomes the focal point for change and adaptation of the system, like a cold front in a weather system.
Boundaries abound in organizations, and they are focal points of change and turbulent behavior.
A few examples include management hierarchies, customer interfaces, geographical separation, departmental barriers, functional differences, educational and cultural diversities. Most complex systems include some form of feedback. Positive feedback amplifies the system outputs, and negative feedback opposes them. A thermostat is a classical example of a negative feedback system. This is an example of negative feedback, because the mechanism works counter to the trend that would continue without any interference.