The theory of flexibility

Convergence is seen in many areas – telecommunications, language, culture, medicine and many others. This makes sense. Just as entropy always increases and time only points in one direction, convergence is an unavoidable outcome. Given enough time, then, almost everything should converge – any differences should wither away. Time should equalize everything. If this is true, a measurement of convergence, should proxy for the age of the system. The more converged the system is, the older it should be. For example, if there are extraterrestrial societies, one could measure the age of such systems by measuring the convergence. If the system is smooth with everybody looking and acting the same, it should be an old system, affording sufficient time to smooth out any differences that may have existed.



Diversity, thus, is a sign of youth and flexibility. Diversity and flexibility are also correlated with innovation rate. This means that younger, immature systems with high diversity will be more innovative. As they grow older, convergence sets in, uniformity slowly envelopes and the systems become less flexible and innovative. On earth, older cultures and societies take pride in their uniformity. However, it is also a handicap in that they are rigid with less scope for innovation. On the other hand, younger and immature cultures are more innovative but also unstable because of its diversity. Crime, for example, will be higher in immature systems with high diversity – leading to instability and chaos.



It is not that one is better than the other – but just that it is a law of Physics. Younger systems are chaotic, diverse and innovative. They can only grow older, with increasing convergence, decreasing flexibility and innovation. This theory of flexibility is as true as the second law of thermodynamics.



Ref: Flexibility: Flexible companies for the Uncertain World

http://www.tinyurl.com/flexibilitybook