GROWTH: Quantitative or qualitative
Charles François (2004). GROWTH: Quantitative or qualitative, International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics, 2(1): 1492.
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(1) |
| ID | ◀ 1492 ▶ |
| Object type | Human sciences, Methodology or model |
According to D. KATZ and R.L. KAHN: “The basic type of system does not change directly as a consequence of expansion. The most common type of growth is a multiplication of the same type of cycles or subsystems — a change in quantity rather than in quality” (1969, p.98).
This mode of growth has been confirmed for numerous populations and social systems, in which the proportions of the different groups remain constant.
- “Qualitative change does occur, however, in two ways. In the first place, quantitative growth calls for supportive subsystems of a specialized character, not necessary when the system was smaller. In the second place, there is a point where quantitative changes produce a qualitative difference in the functioning of a system” (Ibid). Indeed, problems caused by a growing density, by longer communication lines or channels, modified morphological relations, etc… do appear and impose the emergence of subsystems of support, coordination and control.
The present multiplication of new types of subsystems for specialized services in human systems, due to their enormous quantitative growth is a quite typical example.