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Viable
able to maintain a separate existence
Self-Reference
property of a system that contains all the levels below it
Homeostatis
stability of a system's internal environment, despite the system's having to cope with an unpredictable environment
Invariant
a factor in a complicated situation that is unaffected by all the changes surrounding it
Variety
a measure of complexity: the number of possible states of a system
The Law of Requisite Variety
only variety can absorb variety (Ashby's Law)
Attenuator
a device that reduces variety
Amplifier
a device that increases variety
Transducer
encodes or decodes a message whenever it crosses a system boundary - and therefore needs a different mode of expression
Oscillation
failing to settle down in homeostatic equilibrium, a dynamic system over-corrects itself continuously
Diagnosing the System for Organizations - Stafford Beer - John Wiley & Sons-
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