systems
systemantics
systems in general work poorly or not at all
new systems generate new problems
the total amount of anergy in the universe is constant
systems tend to grow, and as they grow, they encroach
systems display antics
complex systems tend to oppose their own proper function
people in systems do not do what the system says they are doing
the system itself does not do what it says it is doing
things are what they are reported to be
systems attract systems-people
the bigger the system, the narrower and more specialized the interface with individuals
a complex system cannot be "made" to work. it either works or it doesn't
a simple system, designed from scratch, sometimes works
some complex systems actually work
a complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that works
a complex system designed from scratch never works and cannot be patched up to make it work. you have to start over, beginning with a working simple system
in complex systems, malfunction and even total non-function may not be detectable for long periods, if ever
large complex systems are beyond human capacity to evaluate
a system that performs a certain function or operates in a certain way will continue to operate in that way regardless of the need or of changed conditions
systems develop goals of their own the instant they come into being
intra-system goals come first
complex systems usually operate in failure mode
a complex system can fail in an infinite number of ways
the mode of failure of a complex system cannot ordinarily be predicted from its structure
the crucial variables are discovered by accident
the larger the system, the greater the probability of unexpected failure
"success" or "function" in any system may be failure in the larger or smaller systems to which the systems is connected
when a fail-safe system fails, it fails by failing to fail safe
complex systems tend to produce complex responses (not solutions) to problems
great advances are not produced by systems designed to produce great advances
systems run better when designed to run downhill
loose systems last longer and work better
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