GROWTH OVERSHOOTING
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(1) |
| ID | ◀ 1489 ▶ |
| Object type | General information, Methodology or model |
The process by which a system overpasses grossly its optimal dimensions.
A system can remain dynamically stable only if two basic conditions are fulfilled:
- the level of its energy supply is permanently adequate, and
- the waste it produces must be disposed of and assimilated by the environment at a sufficient rate.
These conditions are not always present. When the energy supply is over-abundant, the system (specially populations) may grow in excess up to a non-permanently sustainable level. Worse still, this generally increases waste production and can make it unassimilable by the environment, in which case the system may asphyxiate in its waste.
The main problem here is that many systems also suffer of the effects of a time-lag: the nefarious side effects are not perceived until they become overpowering and in some cases an irreversible destructive situation develops.
This is probably a danger that presently threatens mankind under various disguises.