Friction
Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30
CORE DEFINITION
In war, countless tiny, unforeseeable difficulties (such as bad weather, messengers getting lost, fear, fatigue) accumulate, making even simple actions extremely difficult. It is the difference between 'paper plans' and 'real war'.
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
The dissipation coefficient of execution. When making plans, one must presuppose the existence of 'friction'. Any plan that looks perfect on paper will be greatly discounted in practice due to human inertia, misunderstanding, and environmental resistance. Good managers do not eliminate friction but reserve energy redundancy to overcome it.
Anchor fast decisions
Clausewitz: Real war is composed of countless tiny, unforeseeable difficulties (weather, getting lost, fatigue, fear) that accumulate, severely discounting perfect plans. 'Friction' is the execution dissipation coefficient, the gap between paper and reality.
MINIMUM ACTION
In progress 0/1Practice this model in one real situation:
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Source support: Explicit
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frictionverified
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