System behavior emerges from the interaction among agents. The system can exhibit novel behavior. Broad-brush prediction of system behavior is sometimes possible. The basic building blocks of the CAS are agents. Agents are semi-autonomous units that seek to maximize some measure of goodness, or fitness, by evolving over time.
Agents scan their environment and develop schema representing interpretive and action rules.
These schema are often evolved from smaller, more basic schema. Schema exist in multitudes and compete for survival. Schema change makes the agent more robust, more reliable, or grow in requisite variety, adapting to a wider range of conditions. In the case of a business organization, the two may be interrelated only if one does a poor job of structural and process design. When life is far from certain, lead from the edge, with clockware and swarmware in tandem.