"Systems don't behave randomly. Systems behave based on their design. As a result, many systems, even those found in nature, exhibit frequent, common behaviors. Moreover, these behaviors will typically manifest the same problems and issues, so much so that we may even name and categorize them. These are sometimes called archetypes, but I prefer to call them familiar system mechanisms. For designers they are important to know, recognize, and avoid."
"The Power of Recognizing Familiar System Mechanisms Recognizing familiar system mechanisms (FSMs) is important for several reasons: First, by recognizing them, you can quickly and accurately predict how the system will act. This knowledge enables you to situate yourself in the position of highest leverage to alter or improve the output of the system, or to use it to your greatest advantage."
Systems behave according to their design, producing frequent, common behaviors and recurring problems that can be named and categorized as familiar system mechanisms. Designers need to know, recognize, and avoid these mechanisms. Feedback refers to how systems communicate states and performance to individuals, enabling decision-making or evaluation of recommendations. Feedback builds resilience by reporting errors and allowing immediate corrective responses. Immediate feedback loops — action, measurement, adjustment — govern routine interactions like adjusting shower temperature. Recognizing familiar system mechanisms enables accurate prediction of system behavior, positions individuals at high leverage to change outputs, and helps anticipate and prevent common failure modes.
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