PROBLEMS (TYPOLOGY of)
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(2) |
| ID | ◀ 2643 ▶ |
| Object type | General information |
Typification of problems is a thorny issue.
However, at least one basic criterion should be applied: Problems are linear or nonlinear.
Linear problems respond to simple models, but must be of the … et ceteris paribus type, i.e. they must be immune to any changes of their nature, or environment, a quite improbable situation.
Complex systems present mostly nonlinear problems, resulting of a variety of behavior modes as, for instance: be submitted to regulations; respond simultaneously to different cyclical activities; obey to chaotic determinism; be close to an instability limit due to dissipative structuration; be organizationally closed, etc…
Using linear models to solve nonlinear problems leads normally to pseudo-solutions. It is possibly still more dangerous to be unaware of linear assumptions that one may bring unwitingly along when searching for solutions.
The most insidious of all is the belief that nonlinear problems can have perfect and complete solutions.