Table III Comparison of engineering,... | Emerald Publishing

Table III

Comparison of engineering, ecological and adaptive definitions of resilience

Criteria for comparison	Engineering definition of resilience	Ecological definition of resilience
Definition	‘The ability of a system to return to an equilibrium or steady-state after a disturbance’ (Walker et al., 2006; Fiksel, 2003; Folke 2006)	‘The magnitude of the disturbance that can be absorbed before the system changes its structure’ (Tendall et al., 2015; Fiksel, 2003; Folke, 2006)
Stance on equilibrium	Focus is on returning to existing equilibrium as soon as possible (Folke, 2006; Elleuch et al., 2016a, 2016b)	Acceptance of multiple possible equilibriums, change to which could either be forced or presented as a possibility by disruption. Focus therefore is on is on identifying the optimal equilibrium state which may or may not have been the original (Fiksel, 2003; Folke, 2006; Manyena, 2006)
Stance on the nature of disturbances	Disturbance is external with linear and proportional cause/effect ratio (Davoudi et al., 2012)	Disturbance is external with linear and proportional cause/effect ratio (Davoudi et al., 2012; Ford 2009; Barthel and Isendahl 2013)
Key attributes	Return time, efficiency, constancy and predictability (King, 2008)	Thresholds of disturbance that will lead to new system. Persistence and adaptability (Folke, 2006; King, 2008; Lebel et al., 2006; Redman, 2014)

Criteria for comparison	Engineering definition of resilience	Ecological definition of resilience
Definition	‘The ability of a system to return to an equilibrium or steady-state after a disturbance’ (Walker et al., 2006; Fiksel, 2003; Folke 2006)	‘The magnitude of the disturbance that can be absorbed before the system changes its structure’ (Tendall et al., 2015; Fiksel, 2003; Folke, 2006)
Stance on equilibrium	Focus is on returning to existing equilibrium as soon as possible (Folke, 2006; Elleuch et al., 2016a, 2016b)	Acceptance of multiple possible equilibriums, change to which could either be forced or presented as a possibility by disruption. Focus therefore is on is on identifying the optimal equilibrium state which may or may not have been the original (Fiksel, 2003; Folke, 2006; Manyena, 2006)
Stance on the nature of disturbances	Disturbance is external with linear and proportional cause/effect ratio (Davoudi et al., 2012)	Disturbance is external with linear and proportional cause/effect ratio (Davoudi et al., 2012; Ford 2009; Barthel and Isendahl 2013)
Key attributes	Return time, efficiency, constancy and predictability (King, 2008)	Thresholds of disturbance that will lead to new system. Persistence and adaptability (Folke, 2006; King, 2008; Lebel et al., 2006; Redman, 2014)