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Efficiency vs Effectiveness

Blogs > MaD.pYrO
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Mr.Pyro
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
Denmark959 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-03-03 17:16:01
March 03 2010 11:42 GMT
#1
Have to admit there seems to stem a lot of confusion from people when using words like efficiency, efficient, effective and so on.

I'd really love it if people could keep the differences between the two, and really leads to a lot of miscommunication.


Efficiency - Efficency deals with how effective something is in regards to the cost of it.
Crude example - Wood is more efficient for building houses, but steel is more effective because it is tougher. Nanogel is also far more effective but not efficient.

In the same manner you may say that 20 zerglings are quite effective against 5 marines - but this doesn't mean that zerglings are efficient against marines.


ef·fi·cien·cy
   /ɪˈfɪʃənsi/ [ih-fish-uhn-see]
the ratio of the work done or energy developed by a machine, engine, etc., to the energy supplied to it, usually expressed as a percentage.




ef·fec·tive

adequate to accomplish a purpose; producing the intended or expected result: effective teaching methods; effective steps toward peace.


..

So when having these balance discussions i'd really like people to notice the difference between the two, because frankly my brain sometimes hurts when it's apparent that a lot of people don't

Happy Gaming
-Mr.Pyro

***
P⊧[1]<a>[2]<a>[3]<a>tt | P ≝ 1.a.2.a.3.a.P
Kashll
Profile Blog Joined May 2008
United States1117 Posts
March 03 2010 11:44 GMT
#2
you forgot to define efficacy
"After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music." - Aldous Huxley
Mr.Pyro
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
Denmark959 Posts
March 03 2010 12:14 GMT
#3
Don't introduce more things to confuse people =p
P⊧[1]<a>[2]<a>[3]<a>tt | P ≝ 1.a.2.a.3.a.P
Patriot.dlk
Profile Blog Joined October 2004
Sweden5462 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-03-03 12:15:54
March 03 2010 12:15 GMT
#4
Sauron
Profile Joined November 2008
Romania169 Posts
March 03 2010 12:20 GMT
#5
Wow, really effective blog. I learned somenthing today.(or at least I hope so) Make more of them!
Soothsayer
NovaTheFeared
Profile Blog Joined October 2004
United States7224 Posts
March 03 2010 12:25 GMT
#6
I think 20 zerglings are both effective and efficient vs. 5 marines.
日本語が分かりますか
meeple
Profile Blog Joined April 2009
Canada10211 Posts
March 03 2010 12:26 GMT
#7
On March 03 2010 21:20 Sauron wrote:
Wow, really effective blog. I learned somenthing today.(or at least I hope so) Make more of them!


Ah but was it efficient? Could he have said the same thing with less words?
Mr.Pyro
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
Denmark959 Posts
March 03 2010 12:28 GMT
#8
On March 03 2010 21:26 meeple wrote:
Show nested quote +
On March 03 2010 21:20 Sauron wrote:
Wow, really effective blog. I learned somenthing today.(or at least I hope so) Make more of them!


Ah but was it efficient? Could he have said the same thing with less words?


Or could i have made the point more effectively by using DIFFERENT words? HMM...
P⊧[1]<a>[2]<a>[3]<a>tt | P ≝ 1.a.2.a.3.a.P
Ftrunkz
Profile Blog Joined April 2007
Australia2474 Posts
March 03 2010 12:38 GMT
#9
so basically scouts are efficient, but not very effective for anti air?
@NvPinder on twitter | Member of Gamecom Nv | http://www.clan-ta.com | http://www.youtube.com/user/ftrunkz | http://www.twitchtv.com/xghpinder
aqui
Profile Blog Joined January 2008
Germany1023 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-03-03 15:37:46
March 03 2010 12:40 GMT
#10
effectively this is a very inefficient use of me time, i should rather improve my efficacy in other areas.
edit:yarrr, shiver me timbers
Jakalo
Profile Blog Joined March 2009
Latvia2350 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-03-03 13:14:28
March 03 2010 13:12 GMT
#11
ef.. effec.. feces
Nostalgia is not as good as it used to be.
Mr.Pyro
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
Denmark959 Posts
March 03 2010 13:18 GMT
#12
On March 03 2010 21:38 Ftrunkz wrote:
so basically scouts are efficient, but not very effective for anti air?



Basically 20 zealots are effective against 1 ultralisk, but Zealots aren't efficient against ultralisks.
P⊧[1]<a>[2]<a>[3]<a>tt | P ≝ 1.a.2.a.3.a.P
krndandaman
Profile Joined August 2009
Mozambique16569 Posts
March 03 2010 14:27 GMT
#13
--- Nuked ---
Ftrunkz
Profile Blog Joined April 2007
Australia2474 Posts
March 03 2010 14:40 GMT
#14
On March 03 2010 22:18 MaD.pYrO wrote:
Show nested quote +
On March 03 2010 21:38 Ftrunkz wrote:
so basically scouts are efficient, but not very effective for anti air?



Basically 20 zealots are effective against 1 ultralisk, but Zealots aren't efficient against ultralisks.

TROLLLLLLLLED! YES!
@NvPinder on twitter | Member of Gamecom Nv | http://www.clan-ta.com | http://www.youtube.com/user/ftrunkz | http://www.twitchtv.com/xghpinder
JohannesH
Profile Joined September 2009
Finland1364 Posts
March 03 2010 14:49 GMT
#15
On March 03 2010 21:38 Ftrunkz wrote:
so basically scouts are efficient, but not very effective for anti air?

basically no
If you have to ask, you don't know.
Purind
Profile Blog Joined April 2004
Canada3562 Posts
March 03 2010 14:58 GMT
#16
On March 03 2010 20:42 MaD.pYrO wrote:
In the same manner you may say that 20 zerglings are quite effective against 5 marines - but this doesn't mean that zerglings are efficient against marines.


On March 03 2010 22:18 MaD.pYrO wrote:
Show nested quote +
On March 03 2010 21:38 Ftrunkz wrote:
so basically scouts are efficient, but not very effective for anti air?



Basically 20 zealots are effective against 1 ultralisk, but Zealots aren't efficient against ultralisks.


Bad examples. 20 zerglings are efficient against 5 marines, and 20 zealots are efficient against 1 ultralisk. If you meant ling vs marines in large numbers, or lots vs ultras in large numbers, then they are both ineffective and inefficient. Your examples don't outline anything. It's like me saying "Corsairs are effective against wraiths, but aren't efficient against goliaths." They are both effective and efficient against wraiths, but are both ineffective and inefficient against goliaths, which is along the lines of your examples. It doesn't illustrate anything
Trucy Wright is hot
Djin)ftw(
Profile Blog Joined November 2008
Germany3357 Posts
March 03 2010 15:22 GMT
#17
hm i think strategy and tactics are more often misused than efficiency/effectiveness

still, now i learned that there is the word "efficacy" and how it is pronounced, thanks Kashll, thanks leo <3
"jk CLG best mindgames using the baron to counterthrow" - boesthius
SkylineSC
Profile Blog Joined March 2009
United States564 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-03-03 15:25:05
March 03 2010 15:23 GMT
#18
efficiency in starcraft can be described as

cost/benefit

cost is mineral, benefit is damage. so efficiency can only be applied to each unit.

unit a: 50 mineral/10 damage
unit b: 100 mineral/10 damage

unit a is more efficient.

however, the damage is modified by
a). matchup (large vs small unit, etc)
b). tactics (surround, splash damage, etc)

so then efficiency is varied across different matchup of units.

and effectiveness can mean many things. I'm pretty sure the scientific definition is just the gross effect. which means all the "benefit" or "damage" a unit deals. yamato cannon is very effective, scv's melee attack is not. but whether not they are efficient is depended on the cost.

also pokemon example ie. fireblast is super effective vs grass type because it deals most damage, however its 5pp hurt its efficiency compare to an attack like flame thrower.

/end nerdrant
Glull
Profile Blog Joined November 2009
Germany404 Posts
March 03 2010 15:31 GMT
#19
[image loading]


>_>
seppolevne
Profile Blog Joined February 2009
Canada1681 Posts
March 03 2010 16:26 GMT
#20
On March 04 2010 00:23 SkylineSC wrote:
efficiency in starcraft can be described as

cost/benefit

cost is mineral, benefit is damage. so efficiency can only be applied to each unit.

unit a: 50 mineral/10 damage
unit b: 100 mineral/10 damage

unit a is more efficient.

however, the damage is modified by
a). matchup (large vs small unit, etc)
b). tactics (surround, splash damage, etc)

so then efficiency is varied across different matchup of units.

and effectiveness can mean many things. I'm pretty sure the scientific definition is just the gross effect. which means all the "benefit" or "damage" a unit deals. yamato cannon is very effective, scv's melee attack is not. but whether not they are efficient is depended on the cost.

also pokemon example ie. fireblast is super effective vs grass type because it deals most damage, however its 5pp hurt its efficiency compare to an attack like flame thrower.

/end nerdrant

pp isn't really the best measure for it's cost, as the cost of fireblast is still 1 -> 1pp, 1 turn. A better example would be something with varying mana cost or cast time.
J- Pirate Udyr WW T- Pirate Riven Galio M- Galio Annie S- Sona Lux -- Always farm, never carry.
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