THEORY OF PROGRESS FUNCTIONS

Despite its applicability to a variety of phenomena and its demonstrated utility, a theoretical explanation of the progress function is generally lacking. The objective of this paper is to present a theory which accounts for the shape, slope and stability of the progress function. It is shown that a progress function is isomorphic to the Pareto distribution. Further, the process giving rise to a progress function can be explained either in terms of a probabilistic or deterministic mechanism. The theory is further developed and its implications are discussed. © 1979 AIIE.