The Systems Bible: The Beginner's Guide to Systems Large and Small

by Gall, John

• ISBN13: 9780961825171
• ISBN10: 0961825170
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-01-01
• Publisher: General Systemantics Pr

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	xi
Preface to the First Edition	xiii
Preface to the Second Edition	xvii
Preface to the Third Edition	xxiii
Introduction	1	(4)
Paradox Lost and Found
Dimensions of the Problem
Historical Overview	5	(254)
The Primal Scenario
Early Prophets
Korzybski
From Potter to Peter by Way of Parkinson
Part One: Basic Theory
A. The Mysterious Ways of Systems
First Principles	13	(4)
The Fundamental Theorem
Conservation of Anergy
Laws of Growth	17	(4)
Expansion and Encroachment
Do-It-Yourself and Self-Service
The Generalized Uncertainty Principle	21	(4)
Antics
Climax Design
The Non-Additivity Theorem
A..B..C..Disaster(Feedback)	25	(4)
Le Chatelier's Law
The Power of Positive Feedback: A Warning	29	(2)
Runaways
Oscillating Systems
What Next? (The Life Cycle of Systems)	31	(6)
Fully Prepared For The Past (F.P.F.P.)
The Tenacity of Temporary Arrangements
The New System and the Old System
B. Inside and Outside
The Grand Illusion	37	(8)
Functionary's Falsity and the Operational Fallacy
Inside Systems	45	(6)
The F.L.A.W. Coefficient of Fiction
Functionary's Pride
Hireling's Hypnosis
Delusion Systems Versus Systems-Delusions	51	(4)
The Jet Travel Paradox
Manager's Mirage
Manager's Mania
Orwell's Inversion
Systems-People	55	(6)
Specialized Selection
Bypassing the System
Exploitation Theorems
C. Function and Failure
Elementary Systems Functions	61	(6)
Impotent Potentate Syndrome
Vending Machine Fallacy
Advanced Systems Functions	67	(4)
Functional Indeterminacy Theorem (F.I.T.)
The Kantian Hypothesis
The System Knows (System Goals)	71	(4)
Equifinality
Inner Goals
Function, Purpose, Will
Systems Failure (Theory of Errors)	75	(6)
Failure Mode
Graceful Degradation
Failure Mode Mantras
The Fail-Safe Theorem
Glitches, Gremlins, Bugs	81	(4)
Bugs: What Are They?
Bug Behavior
Intermittent Failure
Can Bugs Be Useful (Bug Or Bonanza)?
Some Famous Bugs
Form, Function, Failure	85	(2)
The Origin of Novelty
Specialized Incapacity
Colossal Errors	87	(8)
Grandiosity
Large Lumps of Liability
Total Systems
Unexpected Interactions	95	(4)
The Electric Turtle Effect
Fearful Symmetry
D. Communication Theory
Communication Theory	99	(4)
The Batesonian Sleeping Dog
Transactional Theorems
Dunn's Indeterminacy
Information	103	(4)
Lynd's Lemma
Information Theory
The Basic Information Theorem (B.I. T.) Rate-of-Decay Theorem
Interconvertibility Theorem (Garbage Transfer)
Inaccessibility Theorem
Talking to the System	107	(8)
Whole Dog Spot
The Deregulated Dinosaur Effect
Systemsemantics
Part Two: Applied Systemantics
A. Systems and Self-Defense: Meta-Strategies
How Not To Solve Problems	115	(4)
Denial (No Problem!)
Information, Please!
Hopeful Traveling
Getting Rid Of
The Tao of Problem Avoidance (Meta-Strategy I)	119	(4)
On Not Joining The Coast Guard
Creative Incompetence
The Creative Tack (Meta-Strategy II)	123	(4)
B. Practical Systems-Design
Design Don'ts	127	(6)
Occam's Razor
Unfavorable Settings
Uphill Configurations
The Systems Law of Gravity (The S.L.O.G. Factor)
Looseness
Bad Design
Gresham's Law
Brooks' Law
Catastrophe Theory	133	(4)
C. Management and Other Myths
Wishful Feedback	137	(4)
The Potemkin Village Effect
Output Phobia
The Lesson of Three Mile Island
The Model of The Universe
Fear of Feedback	141	(4)
Feedback and the Future	145	(4)
Catalytic Managership (Utilization)	149	(2)
The ``Problem''Problem	151	(4)
Fits and Starts
The Crash Approach
The Limits to Grandiosity	155	(4)
Limit Theorems
Grandiosity
The Perils of Perfection
Perfectionist's Paradox
Disaster Control	159	(4)
Minsky's Admonition
Jung's Runic Riddle
D. Intervention
Where's The Problem?	163	(4)
Change Agentry
Parts versus Whole
The Ladder of Logical Levels
Probing the System	167	(4)
The Laboratory Rat Scandal
Cubology
One More Strategy
The Problem in the Solution	171	(8)
The Observer Effect
Systems and Self-reference
The Nasal Spray Effect
Finding the Thermostat
Taming Systems	179	(2)
The Token System
The Problem In The Question	181	(6)
The System Out There and the System In Here
Switching Models
The Importance of Being Properly Framed
The Net of Indra	187	(2)
Beyond Stability	189	(2)
After the Solution, What? (The Next Problem)	191	(68)
The Dance of Accommodation
Feedback, Flexibility, Creativity
Envoi	193	(2)
Appendices
I Annotated Compendium	195	(14)
Basic Systems-Axioms, Theorems, Corollaries, etc.
Select List of Meta-Strategies
II Self-evaluation Quizzes and Essay Questions	209	(8)
III Readers' Tear-out Feedback Sheet	217	(2)
IV Whole Systems Catalogue	219	(14)
Outstanding Examples of the Operation of the Laws of General Systemantics (``Horrible Examples'')
Entry Blank
V Glossary	233	(10)
VI Partial List Of Animals	243	(2)
That Have Contributed To Our Understanding of Systems
VII List of Horrible Examples	245	(14)
Notes and References	259	(20)
Biased Bibliography and Good Reading List	279	(4)
Index of Horrible Examples	283	(14)
General Index	297