September 2005
Intermediate to advanced
304 pages
5h 59m
English
The Second Law of Thermodynamics is based on calculations proving that as systems become more complex, the energy in them dissipates over time, eventually leading to a disordered state that requires more energy to control than the energy originally invested. This is entropy. Imagine a newly built house. After some time, the carpeting and windows need cleaning and eventually replacing. Later, the exterior and roof need refurbishing and eventually replacing. Even later, the masonry and foundation need repair and overhaul, along with the plumbing. Ultimately, it becomes so costly to maintain the house that it is cheaper to tear it down and rebuild.
The business world is not exempt from entropy. Benchmarking—identifying the best ...