>|>From Andrew Moreno on Tue, 6 Jun 1995 12:39:45
>|>What I learned when studying system dynamics is that in ANY system, the
>|>delay time between parts of the system is critical to system performance.
>|>(I don't have any references handy, try http://sysdyn.mit.edu)
>|>
>|>The part of the system that has the highest delay time (a bottleneck)
>|>controls the performance of the whole system. This is the theory of
>|>constraints by Eliyahu Goldratt, author of The Goal.
>This is only partially true. In designing structured systems there are
>other factors to consider: sequential or parallel paths, throughput, the
>type of information or action involved, redundancy and critical paths.
>The highest delay time does not necesarilly control system performance if
>(1) it's not on a critical path (2) it's a parallel path and/or (3) it's
>redundant. The most critical part of a system is normally determined by
>the quantity and type of data or action that's involved.
>|>Get rid of the bottlenecks and system performance increases. Now, who or
>|>what makes up the bottleneck here? The people or the bureaucracy? You
>|>tell me.
I want a Linux (Free Unix Derivative) Network in the Philippines. I
believe that this type of network will be an environment that will
facilitate Filipino's ability to learn new stuff. It will also expand
their capabilities.
I think that this type of network will facilitate learning because it will
reduce the delay time needed for feedback responding to a learner's
question to reach the learner. I think that real-time feedback is
ESSENTIAL to high quality learning.
I sent the above message and got a reply on a Philippine Science and
Technology listserv.
My question to you all is, does a system's performance run at the level of
the part of the system with the highest delay time, even if it's not on a
critical path, a parallel path, or it's redundant?
The reason it's important I know this is because "critical, parallel, and
redundant" have different meanings to different people and it would be
possible for the people responsible for funding to skirt around the issue
of who needs what, where within the boundaries of their present system
(one way, high feedback delay mediums, TV, radio, classrooms)
If the people responsible for funding think that their present system
functions at the level of the slowest part of the system, then they might
get convinced that they need a new system for learning facilitation
(two-way, real time, mediums linux-based computer networks, cd-roms).
Thanks in advance,
-- Andrew Moreno <amoreno@broken.ranch.org>