Comments on: Every Complex System that Works Started Out as a Simple System that Worked http://dirkriehle.com/2008/12/18/every-complex-system-that-works-started-out-as-a-small-system-that-worked/ Dirk Riehle's blog about everything computer science, applied and more Sat, 12 May 2012 12:06:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Dirk Riehle http://dirkriehle.com/2008/12/18/every-complex-system-that-works-started-out-as-a-small-system-that-worked/#comment-243 Dirk Riehle Mon, 05 Jan 2009 06:46:33 +0000 http://www.riehle.org/?p=491#comment-243 @Ben Sounds interesting. Any proof or reference for that suggestion? @Ben Sounds interesting. Any proof or reference for that suggestion?

]]> By: Ben http://dirkriehle.com/2008/12/18/every-complex-system-that-works-started-out-as-a-small-system-that-worked/#comment-242 Ben Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:57:54 +0000 http://www.riehle.org/?p=491#comment-242 You can increase chances of success of a complex project by simulating the evolution process. Have teams compete and build on each others' ideas. You can increase chances of success of a complex project by simulating the evolution process. Have teams compete and build on each others’ ideas.

]]> By: Dirk Riehle http://dirkriehle.com/2008/12/18/every-complex-system-that-works-started-out-as-a-small-system-that-worked/#comment-241 Dirk Riehle Sun, 21 Dec 2008 23:50:10 +0000 http://www.riehle.org/?p=491#comment-241 Yep, most projects (startups!) fail. I don't think the proverb is a hard and fast choice, but I do think it helps to think of it as a necessary condition for success. Yep, most projects (startups!) fail. I don’t think the proverb is a hard and fast choice, but I do think it helps to think of it as a necessary condition for success.

]]> By: Kragen Javier Sitaker http://dirkriehle.com/2008/12/18/every-complex-system-that-works-started-out-as-a-small-system-that-worked/#comment-240 Kragen Javier Sitaker Sun, 21 Dec 2008 10:02:49 +0000 http://www.riehle.org/?p=491#comment-240 ...although the IBM 1401 Fortran compiler did work despite its authors taking more than a year from the project start to getting something running. …although the IBM 1401 Fortran compiler did work despite its authors taking more than a year from the project start to getting something running.

]]> By: Kragen Javier Sitaker http://dirkriehle.com/2008/12/18/every-complex-system-that-works-started-out-as-a-small-system-that-worked/#comment-239 Kragen Javier Sitaker Sun, 21 Dec 2008 10:01:52 +0000 http://www.riehle.org/?p=491#comment-239 Evolving from a simpler system is no guarantee of success either. The number of extinct species greatly outnumbers the number of surviving ones; the Chrysler Comprehensive Compensation project was eventually canceled and the software discarded (in a sense, an expensive project failure); many Wikis prosper for a while and then die. It's just that *not* evolving from a simple working system guarantees *failure*. Evolving from a simpler system is no guarantee of success either. The number of extinct species greatly outnumbers the number of surviving ones; the Chrysler Comprehensive Compensation project was eventually canceled and the software discarded (in a sense, an expensive project failure); many Wikis prosper for a while and then die.

It’s just that *not* evolving from a simple working system guarantees *failure*.

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