Systemantics is a book by John Gall in which he proposes several laws of systems' failures. Systemantics is a play on words on systems display antics.

Some laws of systemantics

1. If anything can go wrong, it will. (see Murphy's law)
2. Systems in general work poorly or not at all.
3. Complicated systems seldom exceed five percent efficiency.
4. In complex systems, malfunction and even total non-function may not be detectable for long periods (if ever).
5. A system can fail in an infinite number of ways.
6. Systems tend to grow, and as they grow, they encroach.
7. As systems grow in complexity, they tend to oppose their stated function.
8. As systems grow in size, they tend to lose basic functions.
9. The larger the system, the less the variety in the product.
10. The larger the system, the narrower and more specialized the interfaces between individual elements.
11. Control of a system is exercised by the element with the greatest variety of behavioral responses.
12. Loose systems last longer and work better.
13. Complex systems exhibit complex and unexpected behaviors.
14. Colossal systems foster colossal errors.

References

• Gall, John. The Systems Bible: The Beginner's Guide to Systems Large and Small (Third Edition of SYSTEMANTICS). ISBN 0-9618251-7-0
• Gall, John. SYSTEMANTICS: The Underground Text of Systems Lore. How Systems Really Work and How They Fail (Second Edition). ISBN 0-9618251-0-3
• Gall, John. SYSTEMANTICS: How Systems Really Work and How They Fail (First Edition). ISBN 0671819100

External links

• Bart Stewart's Explanation of Systemantics
• Commentary on the principles of "Systemantics", by Anthony Judge
• c2 wiki entry on Systemantics
• General Systemantics Press
• A brief essay on Systemantics