Systems
Redundancy
The duplication of critical components or functions in a system so that failure of one element doesn't cause system failure. Backup capacity that isn't strictly necessary under normal conditions.
Biological Context
Most organisms have two kidneys, two eyes, and multiple copies of essential genes. Ecosystems have functional redundancy—multiple species performing similar roles. Redundancy trades efficiency for reliability, providing insurance against component failure.
Business Application
Business redundancy includes backup suppliers, cross-trained employees, and distributed infrastructure. It trades efficiency for resilience against component failure.