9. CONNECTEDNESS

A desirable (but not always achievable) state for a source case is to have the variables “fully-connected”. By this is meant that one variable (at least) has been selected as the “goal” or “bottom line” variable and all other variables have been related either directly or indirectly (through others) to the bottom line variable. This also means that every variable in the system influences or is influenced by (particularly each goal variable) at least one other variable.

A candidate for a “fully-connected” set of variables can be found in our illustrative case (see Sec. 5), as displayed in TP Page2. Without too much further explanation of the case itself, let it be said that five “goals” have been identified (in red) and each is influenced by at least one other variable. Further, every variable influences or is influenced by at least one other variable and there is a path from every variable to at least one goal.

There is one exception to the last statement, however. The variable “Cost of User Equipment” (CSTEQUS) is not connected to any goal. So we may say that the case variables are “well-connected” but not “fully-connected”. This example has been made intentionally so as to demonstrate a point – that particularly in complicated cases built from several sources, it is almost impossible to create a “fully-connected” set. Sufficient information rarely is available. More about this in Sec. 12.

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