Optimum, minimum or maximumOptimum, minimum or maximumOften misunderstood by managers, politicians and journalistsOften misunderstood by managers, politicians and journalists

Concept:

Dependent variable Y is :

•maximum

or

•minimum

when

• independent variable X is optimum

by Ton Noorhoffby Ton Noorhoff

X = Independent variable

Y =

Depen

dent

vari

able

X opt

Y max

Y min

Optimum, minimum or maximumOptimum, minimum or maximumOften misunderstood by managers, politicians and journalistsOften misunderstood by managers, politicians and journalists

Examples:

•Management

•Dependent variable Y=

•service-level , availability

•Independent variable X =

•maintenance of the infrastructure

by Ton Noorhoffby Ton Noorhoff

X = maintenance of infrastructure

Y =

serv

ice-l

evel,

availa

bili

ty

Y max

0 %

100 %

X opt

Optimum, minimum or maximumOptimum, minimum or maximumOften misunderstood by managers, politicians and journalistsOften misunderstood by managers, politicians and journalists

Examples:

•Business

•Dependent variable Y = i.e.

•contribution

•profit

•Independent variable X =

•decisions of management

by Ton Noorhoffby Ton Noorhoff

X = decisions of management

Y =

contr

ibuti

on

or

pro

fit

Y = Maximum

X opt

Optimum, minimum or maximumOptimum, minimum or maximumOften misunderstood by managers, politicians and journalistsOften misunderstood by managers, politicians and journalists

Examples:

•Sports

•Dependent variable Y = i.e.

•time required to cover distance

•Independent variable X = i.e.

• training

by Ton Noorhoffby Ton Noorhoff

Y = Minimum

X = training

Y =

tim

e r

equir

ed

X opt