Focus: Capacity & Structure

The Architecture of Work

Description

Examines how systems are built to hold, sequence, and scale activity. Surfaces the scaffolding — people, process, policy, and resources — that enables or constrains progress.

4-Point Overview

Axis:
Architecture
Scope:
Org design, operating model, governance layers, capacity limits, handoffs, resource constraints.
Core Question:
What can this system hold, and how is it built?
Analogy:
A bridge — load rating and design determine what crosses safely.

Ashby’s Law of Requisite Variety

Ashby’s Law of Requisite Variety states that a system must match the complexity of its environment in order to remain stable and effective. When rules or controls fail to keep pace with external variety, systems become brittle and collapse.

Resilience Engineering: Anticipating & Adapting in Complex Systems

Resilience Engineering reframes safety and performance as the ability of systems to anticipate change, absorb shocks, and adapt under pressure — a shift from preventing failure to sustaining success in complex environments.

Cognitive Load Theory: Why Working Memory Limits Matter

Cognitive Load Theory explains how limits on working memory shape learning and performance. When systems ignore these limits, they create wasted effort, poor retention, and user frustration. Designing with load in mind enables clarity, efficiency, and better outcomes.