CHAPTER 29

Towards a Behavioral Description of High-Performing Systems

Peter Vaill

THIS ARTICLE seeks to answer the following question: When a set of persons utilizing some collection of technologies is performing, in relation to some pre-defined goals or standards, in a way which may be described as “excellent” or “outstanding” or “high performing,” what events may be observed in such systems?

This question contains a number of loosely defined terms which, for the moment, will be left undefined. An overly restrictive definition will prevent us from engaging in the acts of imaginative hypothesizing which are the main focus of this paper. Perhaps a little more clarity can be introduced, though, if it is stipulated that the focus is on systems ...

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