A general theory of systems performance criteria

Abstract

Based on general systems thinking of the past half century and the efficiency literature of the last 100 years, this research develops a theoretical model of systems performance criteria that provides a means to evaluate how well any living system, whether individual, organisational or societal, performs task-related activities in the pursuit of goals. The model is used as a foundation for organising the various concepts of performance that have evolved over the past century: efficiency, costs, productivity, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. These performance concepts, derived from the theoretical model, are formalised into axioms that are used to deduce theorems and derivative laws in constructing a formal general theory of systems performance criteria.

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