RATE
Charles François (2004). RATE, International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics, 2(2): 2726.
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(2) |
| ID | ◀ 2726 ▶ |
| Object type | General information |
The level of production per unit of time in a process.
Rates can be constant or variables. When variable they can vary periodically or in an irregular way.
In his Systems Dynamics, J.W. FORRESTER uses flow rates in a very specific way, to define the present, instantaneous flows between the various levels (i.e. operative processes) in the system. There is generally a feedback between the levels and the rates. The flow rates are determined by the levels in accordance with the rules defined by the decision functions. Conversely, the flow rates will detemine the levels. The global results could possibly alter the global decision-making.