This section presents the theorems of Value Management Theory (VMT). Theorems are derived consequences of the ontology and axioms and describe structural effects observed in value systems: interpretation divergence, resistance and accumulation, sustainability, inter-system dependence, and scaling through interpretation.
T1. Impossibility of "Value in General"
A statement about value or anti-value without an explicit specification of the value system and actor interpretations is logically incomplete and cannot have an unambiguous meaning. (A1, A2)
T2. Flow Inversion Across Value Systems
The same flow and the same value element may have different (including opposite) interpretations in different value systems. (A2, A3, O4–O6)
T3. Structural Divergence Between Expectation and Outcome
In any non-trivial value system, there exists a structural divergence between the sender’s planned value and the receiver’s realized value; zero divergence is a special unstable case. (A4, A6, O4–O7)
T4. Flow Resistance (Historical Accumulation)
For any flow in a value system, there exists resistance expressed as Vplan ≠ Vreal and/or the emergence of AVreal.
The total resistance of the system increases with the accumulation of:
- realized anti-value;
- unrealized (or systematically overestimated) planned value;
- retrospective re-evaluations not reflected in subsequent interpretations and flows.
(A3, A4, A5, O13)
T5. Local Optimization Does Not Guarantee Global Improvement
Optimizing individual flows or actors does not guarantee an improvement of the system’s realized value, because global dynamics are determined by the structure of flows, their resistance, and participation conditions. (A3, A4, A8)
T6. Accumulation of Value Distortion
If a value system persistently accumulates:
- realized anti-value, and/or
- stable divergences between planned and realized value (overestimated expectations not confirmed by realization),
then the system’s capacity to realize future value decreases (flow resistance grows and the reproducibility of realization declines). (A4, A5, A6, A12, O13)
T7. Participation and Change of Participation Form
If an actor’s participation condition is violated over horizon T, the actor either leaves the value system or changes its form of participation (flows, roles, or interpretation criteria), which changes the system’s flow structure. (A8, A9, O11)
T8. System Sustainability
A value system loses sustainability if and only if it becomes impossible to perform a necessary value transformation role or to deliver value through the corresponding flows, due to loss of actors, flow disruption, or exceeding the permissible level of flow resistance.
Corollaries:
- the presence of multiple actors capable of performing the same role increases sustainability;
- role redistribution is typically accompanied by a temporary increase in resistance and losses, even if sustainability is preserved.
(A7, A9, O8, O13)
T9. Hidden Flows
If the observable flow structure does not explain the sustainability of a value system, then the system contains latent or unaccounted value/anti-value flows, or the system boundaries (sets A and F) are specified incorrectly. (A3, A8, A9, O10)
T10. Inter-System Dependence
A value system is inter-system dependent if its internal structure and flow balance require a stable inflow of value from external systems or a stable outflow of value into external systems in order to maintain permissible flow resistance and satisfy actors’ participation conditions.
Corollaries:
- termination of inflow creates a deficit of realizable value;
- abrupt termination of a stable outflow may lead to accumulation of unrealized planned value and an increase in resistance, undermining sustainability.
(A10, A11, O13, O14)
T11. Parasitic Structures
If system sustainability is ensured predominantly by inflows of value from external systems without an equivalent return, then the system is parasitic relative to those external systems (in an analytical, non-ethical sense). (A10, A11, O15)
T12. Autocatalytic Growth
A value system is capable of self-sustaining growth if and only if a substantial share of realized value remains within the system and is used to strengthen its future capacity to realize and transform value (autocatalysis). (A6, A7, A12, O15)
T13. No Universal Optimality
There is no universal optimality criterion applicable to all value systems; “optimality” is defined only relative to a chosen value system and its criteria. (A1, A2, A12)
T14. Degradation of Value Without Interpretation
If realized value is systematically not interpreted (i.e., does not influence subsequent planned values, transformations, or interpretation rules), then its influence on the system’s future dynamics disappears and it becomes equivalent to “lost” value for the system. (A6, A12, O10)
T15. System Boundary Theorem
Changing the boundaries of a value system (changing the sets of actors and flows included in the analysis) may change the interpretation of value and conclusions about flows and sustainability without changing the empirical reality. (A1, A3, A10, O1)
T16. Scaling Through Interpretation
If interpretive dynamics leads to changes in actors’ value criteria, this may cause:
- a change in the set of actors for which the participation condition holds (scaling by actor count);
- a change in the qualitative evaluation of value elements through changed interpretation, without changing the elements themselves or their quantitative characteristics.
Scaling of a value system based exclusively on changes in value interpretation, without confirmation through the consequences of its realization, is structurally unstable and leads to increased resistance of value flows.
T17. Theorem of Interpretational Distortion
If changes in the interpretation of planned value within a value system occur persistently under the influence of influential sources of interpretation and are not accompanied by confirmation of value interpretation through the consequences of its realization, then:
- the divergence between planned and realized value increases;
- resistance of value flows increases;
- the risk of anti-value accumulation grows.
Such interpretational distortion may persist for a prolonged period without immediate violation of the stability of the value system.