Citation
The Fractal Geometry of Nature
TL;DR
Fractals are ubiquitous in nature - coastlines, mountains, clouds, blood vessels, trees
Mandelbrot's book-length treatment established fractal geometry as a scientific field, demonstrating that fractals describe an enormous range of natural phenomena from clouds and mountains to blood vessels and galaxies. The work provided both mathematical foundations and visual demonstrations that made fractals accessible to scientists across disciplines.
For organizational theory, this book established that fractal structures are ubiquitous solutions to resource distribution problems in nature, suggesting that similar structures should emerge in organizations facing analogous challenges.
Key Findings from Mandelbrot (1982)
- Fractals are ubiquitous in nature - coastlines, mountains, clouds, blood vessels, trees
- Self-similar structures efficiently solve resource distribution problems
- Fractal dimension measures how completely patterns fill available space