Principles Of General Systems Theory

Front 1

system holism principle

Back 1

A system has holistic properties not manifested by any of its parts. The parts have properties not manifested by the system as a whole.

Front 2

suboptimalization principle

Back 2

If each subsystem, regarded separately, is made to operate with maximum efficiency, the system as a whole will not operate with utmost efficiency.

Front 3

darkness principle

Back 3

No system can be known completely.

Front 4

eighty-twenty principle

Back 4

In any large, complex system, eighty percent of the output will be produced by only twenty percent of the system.

Front 5

hierarchy principle

Back 5

Complex natural phenomena are organized in hierarchies wherein each level is made up of several integrated systems.

Front 6

redundancy of resources principle

Back 6

Maintenance of stability under conditions of disturbance requires redundancy of critical resources.

Front 7

redundancy of potential command principle

Back 7

In any complex decision network, the potential to act effectively is conferred by an adequate concatenation of information.

Front 8

relaxation time principle

Back 8

System stability is possible only if the system's relaxation time is shorter than the mean time between disturbances.

Front 9

negative feedback causality principle

Back 9

Given negative feedback, a system's equilibrium state is invariant over a wide range of initial conditions (equifinality).

Front 10

positive feedback causality principle

Back 10

Given positive feedback in a system, radically different end states are possible from the same initial conditions (multifinality).

Front 11

homeostasis principle

Back 11

A system survives only so long as all essential variables are maintained within their physiological limits.

Front 12

steady-state principle

Back 12

For a system to be in a state of equilibrium, all subsystems must be in equilibrium. All subsystems being in a state of equilibrium, the system must be in equilibrium.

Front 13

self-organizing systems principle

Back 13

Complex systems organize themselves and their characteristic structural and behavioral patterns are mainly a result of interaction between the subsystems.

Front 14

basins of stability principle

Back 14

Complex systems have basins of stability separated by thresholds of instability. A system dwelling on a ridge will suddenly return to the state in a basin.

Front 15

viability principle

Back 15

Viability is a function of the proper balance between autonomy of subsystems and their integration within the whole system, or of the balance between stability and adaptation.

Front 16

first cybernetic control principle

Back 16

Successful implicit control must be a continuous and automatic comparison of behavioral characteristics against a standard. It must be followed by continuous and automatic feedback of corrective action.

Front 17

second cybernetic control principle

Back 17

In implicit control, control is synonymous with communication.

Front 18

third cybernetic control principle

Back 18

In implicit control, variables are brought back into control in the act of, and by the act of, going out of control.

Front 19

the feedback principle

Back 19

The result of behavior is always scanned and its success or failure modifies future behavior.

Front 20

the maximum power principle

Back 20

Those systems that survive in competition between alternative choices are those that develop more power inflow and use it to meet the needs of survival.