Entropy was introduced as an abstract function, the maxima of which determined the equilibrium states.  Temperature was then defined in terms of the partial derivative of this function.  This is very far removed from providing a means of measuring relation temperature.  An operational definition of temperature is essential if organizational thermodynamics is to have any utility.  To obtain empirically verifiable results from thermodynamics it is necessary to determine the fundamental relationship.  This is most conveniently done empirically.  However, empirical computations require temperature measurements.

As discussed above the efficiency of a thermodynamic engine is

The thermodynamic engine efficiency is defined in terms of fluxes of heat and work, and is consequently operationally measurable.  Thus, a Carnot cycle provides an operational method of measuring the ratio of two temperatures.

The operational definition of temperature measure completes the foundation that permits the application of the powerful and extensive thermodynamics formalism to human relation dynamics.  I will make use of this foundation in Section 3 were I analyze the dynamics of specific organizations.

ç  Prior Page of Text     Next Page of Text è
(C) 2005-2014 Wayne M. Angel.  All rights reserved.