**5.7. Groups as complex adaptive systems**

Groups are best represented as being complex adaptive systems (CAS). McGrath et al. [7] highlighted this point by describing groups as: "complex entities embedded in a hierarchy of levels and characterized by multiple, bidirectional, and nonlinear causal relations". McGrath et al. [7] identified groups as "complex entities embedded in a hierarchy of levels and characterized by multiple, bidirectional, and nonlinear causal relations". Ramos-Villagrasa et al. [8] proposed that viewing teams as CAS was more than just a metaphor anymore, it has become a "change in the epistemology of teams". Ramos-Villagrasa et al. [8] highlighted this new epistemology as providing researchers to: "(a) adopt a different logic of inquiry, (b) to deal with temporal issues, (c) to raise the level of theoretical sophistication, and (d) thus to lead to better practical applications". One example of this is in [26] complex adaptive team systems model that utilizes naturally occurring team processes (see TELDE model [27]) to drive organizational interventions.
