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What is Variety ?

In cybernetics, variety is the main way to measure the complexity of a system. It refers to the number of possible states a system can have and is essential for making choices and regulating the subject.

Additional Glossary Terms

Cybernetics

Cybernetics is a transdisciplinary science focused on “control and communication in the animal and the machine”. Coined by Norbert Wiener in 1948, the term is derived from the Greek word

Viable System Model (VSM)

Viable System Model (VSM) outlines essential organizational characteristics required for a system to adapt to unexpected environmental changes. VSM is applicable to organizations of all sizes, explaining how systems can

Organized Simplicity

Organized simplicity includes situations with straightforward problems characterized by a limited number of components interacting in uncomplicated, predictable ways. For example, determining the total cost of groceries when each item

Nested Systems

Nested systems are a hierarchical configuration of systems, characterized by smaller systems (subsystem) being embedded within larger ones. In this arrangement, each smaller system forms part of a larger one,

System of Systems Methodology (SOSM)

A System of Systems Methodology (SOSM) is a meta-methodological framework that aims to match various systems methodologies with their most suitable application contexts. It serves as a guide for choosing

Reflexivity

Reflexivity is the conscious practice of self-examination, where one actively questions their own attitudes, thought processes, values, assumptions, prejudices, and habitual actions