Lever Point: Difference between revisions
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Lever points (also named 'Leverage Points') in a [[Complex_Adaptive_System|complex adaptive system]] are according to John H. Holland points at which a small effort can produce a desired, directed effect. At these critical transition points the behavior of a complex system changes fundamentally. They are similar to Gell-Mann's [[Frozen_Accident|frozen accidents]]. | Lever points (also named 'Leverage Points') in a [[Complex_Adaptive_System|complex adaptive system]] are according to John H. Holland points at which a small effort can produce a desired, directed effect. | ||
They are places within a complex adaptive system where a small shift can produce big changes. At these critical transition points the behavior of a complex system changes fundamentally. They are similar to Gell-Mann's [[Frozen_Accident|frozen accidents]]. Lever points identify places to intervene in a system. | |||
John H. Holland writes about them (see [http://www.capatcolumbia.com/CSFB%20TLF/2000/holland_sidecolumn.pdf here]) | John H. Holland writes about them (see [http://www.capatcolumbia.com/CSFB%20TLF/2000/holland_sidecolumn.pdf here]) | ||
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* The Scientist article from John H. Holland [http://www.the-scientist.com/article/display/54988/ Biology's Gift to a Complex World] | * The Scientist article from John H. Holland [http://www.the-scientist.com/article/display/54988/ Biology's Gift to a Complex World] | ||
* Paper from Donella Meadows about [http://www.sustainer.org/pubs/Leverage_Points.pdf Leverage Points] | |||
Revision as of 10:38, 5 October 2008
Lever points (also named 'Leverage Points') in a complex adaptive system are according to John H. Holland points at which a small effort can produce a desired, directed effect. They are places within a complex adaptive system where a small shift can produce big changes. At these critical transition points the behavior of a complex system changes fundamentally. They are similar to Gell-Mann's frozen accidents. Lever points identify places to intervene in a system.
John H. Holland writes about them (see here)
- "Almost every complex adaptive system that we know of has lever points. These are great things if you can find them. A lever point allows you to make big, directed changes for a relatively small effort. A vaccine is a good example of a lever point. An immune system is terribly complex. But we do know that for some diseases, we can make a small injection and train the immune system to resist a disease for the rest of its existence — much longer than the life span of any blood cell in your body."
see also butterfly effect, path dependence, frozen accident
Links
- The Scientist article from John H. Holland Biology's Gift to a Complex World
- Paper from Donella Meadows about Leverage Points
