Tetworld Node A: Geometric Systems Design

Geometric Systems Design : A Design Science Approach

Last Modified 3/30/1999

To understand the theory behind geometric systems design:

Design problems and opportunities exist because they "stick together" in an organized fashion. To fix this problem/opportunity we need to :

Figure out what keeps it stuck together

Design a new way to stick the pieces together that matches our goals

Plan a path to get from here to there.

Here is a set of questions that will describe how things are "stuck together":

Gameboard : Internal Connections or structure:

List the parts of the problem/opportunity

For example, housing stock, jobs available, land.

Make a picture or map of the parts

Use the generic tetrahedron or octahedron or make a mind-map

Label the connections between the parts

Energy flows and storage:

Define what energy flows in the connections between the parts

Look at the parts and decide which ones represent storage of energy or material

Use arrows to show attraction, repulsion, or flow.

Information flows and feedback:

Define what information flows in the connections between the parts

Look at the parts and decide how information is used for feedback

Use arrows to show attraction, repulsion, or flow.

Boundary:

What difference is there between the problem/opportunity and the system it is embedded in?

List the spatial boundary (edge of a pond), the information boundary (how does the system look from the outside) the energy bounday (what flows in and out)

Maintaining a setpoint, moving towards a goal, or cycling/loopping:

Does the system maintain a fixed level (for example empoyment)

What storages or accumulations (of energy, information or material) have fixed levels?

Does the system follow or move towards something over time?

Do these storages oscillate or move around a setpoint?

This topics listed above can be modeled graphically as follows :

Design of the future :

Now that you have a model of the present, list the changes you want to occur

For example, if the level of something (like affordable housing) is low, define what the new level should be

Now look at what structures and connections would need to be changed to support this

For example, unemployment remains at a relatively fixed level to keep inflation low -- if employment were increased, how would inflation be controlled?

Summarize the "stickiness" that holds the current system together.

Now create new structures and connections that will keep the system at its new levels.

Use brainstorming, mind mapping, clustering, or the techniques of Edward deBono to generate alternatives

Rank the alternatives using the mission criteria set forth by Fuller:

Reform the Environment

Up performance

Do not resort to politics

General systems perspective (beginning with the whole before proceeding to the parts)

Success(plenitude) for all.

Your teams criteria

Planning our Path

With our alternative future defined we can move towards implementing it. We will have a model of the future alongside one of the present. The differences between these highlight the changes to be made. Since the modelers will not necessarily be in positions of power they will need to find strategies to move the system in the desired state. This process is what Bucky Fuller referred to as "turning the trimtab"

Trimtab : A large ship is steered by means of a rudder. The rudder is small compared to the ship, but can still be a large object and therefore difficult to turn. A trimtab can be placed on the rudder (sort of like a rudder for the rudder) allowing the larger rudder and thence the ship to be turned. The success of the modelers will depend on the pattern integrity of their model and their ability to find trimtabs.

Creating our Path

If new structures or connections are needed, how will they be created?

How will they be maintained?

Document the new system (using the octahedral model if you like)

Define a plan for moving the system from the current model to the new one

Test your models by getting other people to critique them

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