smallprojects

All things exist in only one of two basic forms: they are either products or processes.

Products are complete of themselves; self-contained and usually singular in function or role, products can only ever be the result of processes. A rock or a pebble develops through the process of erosion or mining; a coffee maker, through the processes of manufacturing. Products invariably either mark the end or an interim moment of a process. Most significantly, once they exist, products are independent of immediate physical context: a change in context without a drastic change of its surrounding processes will not immediately alter the product. The essence of a book does not change from Africa to Antarctica; a Mercedes in Madrid is a Mercedes in Timbuktu. Products are inherently stable; their independence from immediate physical context results in their finding the greatest ease with exchange, or trade.

Processes, being more than merely dependent on context, are a part of context itself. The growth of a tree is as integral to its exposure to sun and rain, as is the production line of a Toyota to its mechanised arms and conveyor system. The basic essence of a critical process, however, involves its sensitivity to the specificity of context. Since true processes are intimately tied to context, the smallest change in physical context results in immediate change to the process and ultimately, in the products that may result. The process of car manufacture, for this reason, is less a critical process than it is one of manufacturing, the exercise of control to eliminate variation of its product: manufacturing processes are themselves designed as products. As critical processes are so dependent on context, their very volatility makes them extremely difficult to find trade with, or to brand and market. It is for this reason that critical processes exist primarily in and as a part of nature and considerably less as a result of the expertise and sensitivity of human efforts; they are not commercially viable as compared with products.