MULTIFOCALITY 1)2)
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An organizational way "… characterized by numerous centers or foci of likely interactions, spread through an area, each focus being as far as possible self-sufficient" (S. BOYDEN, 1978 – quoted by W.D. GROSSMANN and K.E.F WATT, 1992, p.8).
These authors state: "In a multifocal system, the breakdown of an element or of a whole focal point will not really affect the rest of the system because of the self -sufficiency of the subsystems" (p.9).
This may be over-optimistic, since the breakdown may affect a really critical subsystem (for instance the one securing energy inputs), but nevertheless it is generally a good bet. Multifocal systems however still need global coherence, monitoring and regulation.
Multifocality is closely related to heterogeneity.
Categories
- 1) General information
- 2) Methodology or model
- 3) Epistemology, ontology and semantics
- 4) Human sciences
- 5) Discipline oriented
Publisher
Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science(2020).
To cite this page, please use the following information:
Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science (2020). Title of the entry. In Charles François (Ed.), International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics (2). Retrieved from www.systemspedia.org/[full/url]
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