Systemantics [Slashdot] adapted from 1977 book "Summary:
Despite small imperfections, there's a wealth of
real knowledge in this small volume. The author helpfully outlines the
main points at the book's end (some of which I've bulleted above). The
book's overall message couldn't be more clear if it summarized itself.
Which it nicely does:
It is hardly necessary to
state that the very first principle of Systems design is a negative
one: Do it without a system if you can.
Systems are seductive. They promise to do a hard
job faster, better, and more easily than you could do it by yourself.
But if you set up a system, you are likely to find your time and effort
now being consumed in the care and feeding of the system itself.
- New problems are created by its very presence.
- Once set up, it won't go away, it grows and encroaches.
- It begins to do strange and wonderful things.
- It breaks down in ways you never thought possible.
- It kicks back, gets in the way, and opposes its own proper function.
- Your own perspective becomes distorted by being in the system.
- You become anxious and push on it to make it work.
Eventually you come to believe that the
misbegotten product it so grudgingly delivers is what you really wanted
all the time. You are now a Systems-person."
1:54:45 PM  Google It!.
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