If Slime Mold can do, why can't we?

Still looking at complexity theory, particularly as it relates to software and software projects. Apparently many of the early thoughts on emergence of complex behaviors comes from the study of slime mold. I am not very well versed in slime mold but apparently a slime mold "individual" and its clan are able to separate and join with each other based on environmental conditions without much cognitive ability (or any for that matter). To me, that suggests that it is perhaps the human brain that prevents teams of engineers to effectively collaborate on solving problems efficiently, given slime mold can spontaneously form collaborative groups but it takes tremendous energy and a big stick to form a coordinated human team.

If you want a good reference on this, check out Steven Johnson's text titled, Emergence - The connected lives of ants, brains, cities and software, Scribner, New York. ISBN: 0-684-868875-X. Its worth reading the first chapter at least and ideally the whole book.