Systemantics
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Systemantics is a book by John Gall in which he proposes several laws of systems' failures. Systemantics is a play on words on systems display antics.
Some laws of systemantics
- If anything can go wrong, it will. (see Murphy's law)
- Systems in general work poorly or not at all.
- Complicated systems seldom exceed five percent efficiency.
- In complex systems, malfunction and even total non-function may not be detectable for long periods (if ever).
- A system can fail in an infinite number of ways.
- Systems tend to grow, and as they grow, they encroach.
- As systems grow in complexity, they tend to oppose their stated function.
- As systems grow in size, they tend to lose basic functions.
- The larger the system, the less the variety in the product.
- The larger the system, the narrower and more specialized the interfaces between individual elements.
- Control of a system is exercised by the element with the greatest variety of behavioral responses.
- Loose systems last longer and work better.
- Complex systems exhibit complex and unexpected behaviors.
- Colossal systems foster colossal errors.
References
- Gall, John. The Systems Bible: The Beginner's Guide to Systems Large and Small (Third Edition of SYSTEMANTICS). ISBN 0-9618251-7-0
- Gall, John. SYSTEMANTICS: The Underground Text of Systems Lore. How Systems Really Work and How They Fail (Second Edition). ISBN 0-9618251-0-3
- Gall, John. SYSTEMANTICS: How Systems Really Work and How They Fail (First Edition). ISBN 0671819100
External links
- Bart Stewart's Explanation of Systemantics (http://www.draftymanor.com/bart/systems1.htm)
- Commentary on the principles of "Systemantics", by Anthony Judge (http://www.uia.org/problems/systfail.htm)
- c2 wiki entry on Systemantics (http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?GeneralSystemantics)
- General Systemantics Press (http://www.generalsystemantics.com/)
- A brief essay on Systemantics (http://donavanhall.net/columnists/donavan/2002/gensystemantics.shtml)