Great article. Systems analysis like this is sadly more rare than it should be. If you don't already know them, Gall's "Laws of Systemantics" are an entertaining and profound look at systems. For instance Law #6: "Complex systems tend to oppose their own proper function. As systems grow in complexity, they tend to oppose their stated function." Or, one of my favorites, Law #18: "A system that performs a certain way will continue to operate in that way regardless of the need or of changed conditions."
Great article. Systems analysis like this is sadly more rare than it should be. If you don't already know them, Gall's "Laws of Systemantics" are an entertaining and profound look at systems. For instance Law #6: "Complex systems tend to oppose their own proper function. As systems grow in complexity, they tend to oppose their stated function." Or, one of my favorites, Law #18: "A system that performs a certain way will continue to operate in that way regardless of the need or of changed conditions."