says it is doing. [The Operational Fallacy] Inside systems The real world is what is reported to the system [The Fundamental Law of Administrative Workings (F.L.A.W.)]. In other words, the system has a severely censored and distorted view of reality from biased and filtering sensory organs which displaces understanding of the actual real-world which pales and tends to disappear. This displacement creates a type of sensory deprivation and a kind of hallucinogenic effect on those inside the systems, causing them to lose common sense. In addition to negatively affecting those inside the system, the system attracts to it people who are optimized for the pathological environment the system creates. Thus, Systems attract systems-people Elementary systems functions A complex system cannot be "made" to work. It either works or it doesn't. A simple system, designed from scratch, sometimes works. Some complex systems actually work. A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that works. A complex system designed from scratch never works and cannot be patched up to make it work. You have to start over, beginning with a working simple system. Advanced systems functions The Functional Indeterminacy Theorem (F.I.T.): In complex systems, malfunction and even total non-function may not be detectable for long periods, if ever. The Newtonian Law of Systems Inertia: A system that performs a certain way will continue to operate in that way regardless of the need or of changed conditions. Systems develop goals of their own the instant they come into being. Intrasystem goals come first. System failure The Fundamental Failure-Mode Theorem (F.F.T.): complex systems usually operate in a failure mode. A complex system can fail in an infinite number of ways. (If anything can go wrong, it will; see Murphy's law.) The mode of failure of a complex system cannot ordinarily be predicted from its structure. The crucial variables are discovered by accident. The larger the system, the greater the probability of unexpected failure. "Success" or "Function" in any system may be failure in the larger or smaller systems to which the system is connected. The Fail-Safe Theorem: When a Fail-Safe system fails, it fails by failing to fail safe. Practical systems design The Vector Theory of Systems: Systems run better when designed to run downhill. Loose systems last longer and work better. (Efficient systems are dangerous to themselves and to others.) Management and other myths Complex systems