The CRTI Framework and the Mallinckrodt System Lifecycle: Mapping Archetypal Cognitive Strategies to the Evolution of Complex Adaptive Systems

Description This preprint introduces a conceptual extension of the Compression–Resonance–Tension Index (CRTI) framework and the Mallinckrodt System Lifecycle as a heuristic model for analyzing the evolution and fragility of complex adaptive systems (CAS). The framework proposes that systems evolve through a sequence of functional phases characterized by changing balances between structural compression, adaptive resonance, and systemic tension. Early stages of system formation are dominated by exploration and variance, while later stages emphasize structural optimization and institutionalization. When compression becomes excessive and adaptive resonance declines, systems may enter a state of over-optimization or “singularization”, in which fragility increases and collapse becomes more likely. To illustrate these lifecycle transitions, the paper introduces four archetypal cognitive strategies—SP, NF, NT, and SJ—used strictly as heuristic metaphors for functional system roles. These archetypes represent phases of exploration, meaning integration, analytical modeling, and institutional stabilization within evolving systems. The resulting lifecycle trajectory can be summarized as: Chaos → Exploration → Integration → Modeling → Institutionalization → Overcompression → Collapse. Within the CRTI framework, systemic fragility increases when the combined effects of structural compression and tension exceed the adaptive capacity provided by resonance. This conceptual model provides a diagnostic lens for examining structural rigidity, declining adaptability, and resilience risks in organizations, institutions, and socio-technical systems. The present work is intended as a conceptual hypothesis within open science, encouraging interdisciplinary discussion and future empirical investigation into measurable indicators of compression, resonance, and systemic resilience. Keywords Complex Adaptive Systems System Theory CRTI Framework Mallinckrodt Lifecycle Singularization System Fragility Organizational Evolution Cybernetics Adaptive Systems Heuristic Modeling