Scientific Definition
Inputs combine under conditions to produce new outputs — sometimes irreversibly.
Plain-English Definition
Inputs combine under conditions to produce new outputs — sometimes irreversibly.
Feynman Explanation
The right ingredients in the wrong order is the wrong result.
Core Principle
Inputs combine under conditions to produce new outputs — sometimes irreversibly.
Mechanisms
Pending editorial review.
Inputs combine under conditions to produce new outputs — sometimes irreversibly.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Strategy is recipe design, not ingredient acquisition.
Inputs (Triggers)
Pending editorial review.
Outputs (Behaviors)
Pending editorial review.
Behavioral Signature
The right ingredients in the wrong order is the wrong result.
Examples
- Combining incentives, talent, and capital — order and timing matter.
- Strategy is recipe design, not ingredient acquisition.
Pending editorial review.
Famous Experiments
Pending editorial review.
Design Principles
- Sequence interventions like reactions: temperature, catalyst, order.
Measurement Approaches
Pending editorial review.
Evidence
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
The Perverse Incentive Lens™
How this behavior is exploited — and how to redesign around it.
- Sequence interventions like reactions: temperature, catalyst, order.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Interactive Mini Network
Click any neighbor to re-center the graph and follow the threads of connection.
Knowledge Graph Neighbors
Auto-linked to the rest of the Human Behavior Taxonomy by family, domain, dimension, and shared keywords.
Combining substances to create a new material stronger than its parts.
A single constraint limits the throughput of an entire system.
A system's throughput is constrained by its single slowest step.
Small visible disorders signal that bigger ones will be tolerated.
Adding manpower to a late software project makes it later.
Adding people to a late project makes it later.
A substance that speeds up a reaction without being consumed.
Nonlinear systems are highly sensitive to initial conditions.
Software architecture mirrors org structure.
Working together has a cost that scales with the number of people.
The threshold at which a system becomes self-sustaining.
Designing systems for the lowest-capability user produces resilience for everyone.