I believe it was here, though a search has resulted in no matches, that someone had either as part of their post or in their signature, the three stages of a system. (I'm hoping it was on this forum.) I thought it was really well done, and when I went to find it again, I've been unable to.
Though I go to other message boards, I'm sure it was here. And I'm really hoping it wasn't a dream.
(Which I think means I've got problems.)
I don't remember it clearly, but it's something like:
1. The system is created to fulfill a purpose.
2. The system grows to encompass multiple purposes.
3. The system becomes too large to fulfill any purpose and exists to be self-sustaining.
Any chance anyone knows what I'm talking about?