SIMPLICITY (Principle of maximum)
Charles François (2004). SIMPLICITY (Principle of maximum), International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics, 2(2): 3046.
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(2) |
| ID | ◀ 3046 ▶ |
| Object type | Methodology or model |
- “The structure of the organism is determined as the simplest possible physical design which can perform the necessary function with the required intensity” (N. RASHEVSKY, 1960, p.125).
It is originally a biophysical principle. It is however clear that it applies (or should apply!) to organizations in general, but specially to the most complex ones.
RASHEVSKY observes that the biophysicist D. COHN proposed the expression, more precise according to him, of “Principle of optimum design”. Considering that the word “optimum” implies the necessity of establishing a criterion of such “optimality”, the advantage is not evident.