Breaking The Prism of Order | Sudirman Said | TEDxITS

In this TEDxITS talk, Sudirman Said argues that systems which filter out all noise in pursuit of perfect harmony become blind and stagnant rather than stable. The talk presents disruption as essential for vitality and innovation. It draws on stochastic resonance, the idea that weak signals can become stronger in the presence of noise. Tension, randomness and unexpected disturbances are presented as forces that keep systems alive and evolving.

• Systems that eliminate all disruption risk becoming stagnant
• Stochastic resonance: weak signals strengthened by noise
• Tension and randomness as drivers of innovation

A system that filters out all “noise” in pursuit of perfect harmony becomes blind and stagnant, not stable. This talk argues that what we often dismiss as disruption is actually essential for vitality and innovation, drawing on the idea of stochastic resonance—where weak signals become stronger only with the presence of noise. Rather than harmony alone, it is the tension, randomness, and unexpected disturbances that keep systems alive and evolving, revealing that true progress depends on embracing, not eliminating, noise. Sudirman Said is an Indonesian public sector leader, educator, and governance advocate dedicated to driving institutional reform and integrity across the nation. Through his executive leadership in government, state-owned enterprises, and humanitarian organizations, he has consistently championed transparency and sustainable development. His extensive contributions to public policy, civic engagement, and leadership development have established him as a respected and influential voice in Indonesia’s governance and public service landscape. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx