POLYFUNCTIONALITY
Charles François (2004). POLYFUNCTIONALITY, International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics, 2(2): 2581.
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(2) |
| ID | ◀ 2581 ▶ |
| Object type | General information, Methodology or model |
The characteristic of any element included in different structures.
G.S. SCUR uses the concept in linguistics, where it could be more specifically called “polysemy” (1965, p.98).
It seems however more general. A person, for example, is generally polyfunctional, as a worker, as a parent, as a consumer, as a hobbyist, etc…
Polyfunctionality can obviously be a cause of tension within organizations, that must harmonize and optimize the many times divergent objectives of their members.
It also can be a serious problem for the individual, who must reconcile into a global system of behavior, objectives that may be quite divergent, if not downright contradictory.