Reference #392: Thinking in Systems

Parameters, and adjustment of them, have very little leverage over system behaviours. Such adjustments include the price a company sets for its product, the minimum wage, or how much tax money is spent on a particular area. These may matter in the short term and to parties directly affected by the change, but rarely affect systemic and long-term behaviour.

The exception is when parameters move into ranges that affect other system properties, such as shifting the balance of balancing and reinforcing feedback loops. This is very uncommon, as systems have usually evolved to stay well away from critical parameter ranges.

Meadows. Thinking in Systems, 2008. (147-149)

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