“Having obtained the constants of the operations under study… we compare the value of the constants obtained in actual operations with the optimum theoretical value, if this can be computed. If the actual value is within a hemibel (…a factor of 3) of the theoretical value, then it is extremely unlikely that any improvement in the details of the operation will result in significant improvement. [When] there is a wide gap between the actual and theoretical results… a hint as to the possible means of improvement can usually be obtained by a crude sorting of the operational data to see whether changes in personnel, equipment, or tactics produce a significant change in the constants.”
The term was invented while operations research was being invented: in World War Two. They also thought (rightfully so) that, once you’re within a hemibel for one problem, there are plenty of other problems where it is easier to get return on investment than when continuing on the problem at hand.
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Related is is “hemibel thinking” in operations research. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA100421.pdf:
“Having obtained the constants of the operations under study… we compare the value of the constants obtained in actual operations with the optimum theoretical value, if this can be computed. If the actual value is within a hemibel (…a factor of 3) of the theoretical value, then it is extremely unlikely that any improvement in the details of the operation will result in significant improvement. [When] there is a wide gap between the actual and theoretical results… a hint as to the possible means of improvement can usually be obtained by a crude sorting of the operational data to see whether changes in personnel, equipment, or tactics produce a significant change in the constants.”
The term was invented while operations research was being invented: in World War Two. They also thought (rightfully so) that, once you’re within a hemibel for one problem, there are plenty of other problems where it is easier to get return on investment than when continuing on the problem at hand.