Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
At first glance, this might appear to be a book on mathematics, but it is really intended for the practical engineer who wishes to gain greater control of the multidimensional mathematical models which are increasingly an important part of his environment. Another feature of the book is that it attempts to balance left- and right-brain perceptions; the author has noticed that many graph theory books are disturbingly light on actual topological pictures of their material. One thing that this book is not is a depiction of the Theory of Constraints, as defined by Eliyahu Goldratt in the 1980's. Constraint Theory was originally defined by the author in his PhD dissertation in 1967 and subsequent papers written over the following decade. It strives to employ more of a mathematical foundation to complexity than the Theory of Constraints. This merely attempts to differentiate this book from Goldratt's work, not demean his efforts. After all, the main body of work in the field of 1 Systems Engineering is still largely qualitative .
Synopsis
Motivations: What is Constraint Theory and why is it important?- The Four-fold way: How to Perceive Complex Mathematical Models and Well-Posed Problems.- General Results: From Protomath to Math to Metamath.- Regular Relations: Searching for the Kernels of Constraint.- Discrete and Interval Relations: The Diminished Utility of Metamodels.- The Logical Structure of Constraint: Theory A Compact Summary.- Examples of Constraint Theory Applied to Real-World Problems.- Manager and Analyst Meet Again: Gists and Schizophrenia.
Synopsis
This text analyses the defectiveness of large mathematical models of physical systems. It demonstrates how to use the bipartite graph of the defective model to pinpoint and overcome that inconsistency. Enriched with formal proofs interspersed among the illuminating hypothetical dialog sequences between manager and analyst, this work is an essential tool in achieving quality control in developing and applying large models. - John Warfield. It is an indispensable reference for mathematician, engineer and manager alike.
Synopsis
Packed with new material and research, this second edition of George Friedman's bestselling Constraint Theory remains an invaluable reference for all engineers, mathematicians, and managers concerned with modeling. As in the first edition, this text analyzes the way Constraint Theory employs bipartite graphs and presents the process of locating the "kernel of constraint" trillions of times faster than brute-force approaches, determining model consistency and computational allowability. Unique in its abundance of topological pictures of the material, this book balances left- and right-brain perceptions to provide a thorough explanation of multidimensional mathematical models. Much of the extended material in this new edition also comes from Phan Phan's PhD dissertation in 2011, titled "Expanding Constraint Theory to Determine Well-Posedness of Large Mathematical Models."
Praise for the first edition:
"Dr. George Friedman is indisputably the father of the very powerful methods of constraint theory." --Cornelius T. Leondes, UCLA
"Groundbreaking work. ... Friedman's accomplishment represents engineering at its finest. ... The credibility of the theory rests upon the formal proofs which are interspersed among the illuminating hypothetical dialog sequences between manager and analyst, which bring out distinctions that the organization must face, en route to accepting Friedman's work as essential to achieve quality control in developing and applying large models." --John N. Warfield