Variety (glossary)

(1) A measure of the connectivity betwen system elements

(2) Interacting systems stability increases with variety, and with the degree of connectivity of that variety within the environment

Source(s)

(1) Ashby, W R. 1956. Introduction to Cybernetics London; Wiley

(2) Hitchins, D. (2007) Systems Engineering: A 21st Century Systems Methodology: Wiley

Discussion

(1) is a cybernetic term used to define the number of available connections between elements, and thus the potential routes for control actions.

(2) is a systems engineering definition, in which variety of connections between elements is used as a way to increase the stability and potential of a system to achieve is goals. Hitchins refers to this as Connected Variety, and also discussed the limits on this conectivity applied by availability of time, space, resource.