Complexity organizations base their business success on the products they create. .Their position in the marketplace is based on the market leading nature of their products. The product itself may be complex and sophisticated, and based on a (frequently unique) level of skill and expertise that the supplying company has developed. Alternatively the product may be somewhat simpler, but as the end result of a sophisticated and information intensive product innovation process will offer features and functionality that places it ahead of the competition.

In both cases the companies profitability is based on an ability to expect and achieve a premium price in the marketplace on the basis of the leadership position of their products and/or services in the perception of the customer

At one extreme these organizations will execute very small numbers of very complex transactions, typified by major capital projects, prototype engineering, and services dependent upon complex intellectual knowledge, e.g. mergers & acquisitions

.At the other extreme these companies will be leaders in product innovation and fashion with a constant stream of new products appearing each one taking over market leadership from its predecessor.

In both cases the organization will invest heavily in R&D and innovation