Consistency

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Consistency means: "the property of holding together and retaining shape." This is the most commonly-used definition of the word. It describes something that is the same throughout.

Consistency has several technical meanings:

• In mathematics and logic, as well as in theoretical physics, it refers to the proposition that a formal theory or a physical theory contains no contradictions. See consistency proof.
• In statistics, consistency (statistics) refers to a property of estimators and estimation.
• In decision theory, a voting system is called "consistent" if and only if it guarantees that whenever option A is the winner both in district 1 and district 2 then option A must also be the winner in the combined district.
• In computer science it is sometimes used to mean data integrity or to refer to a memory consistency model
• Consistency is also occasionally used as a synonym for composition (natural science), density or viscosity.
• In sports consistency refers to a competitor's (or team's) ability to perform to a high standard on a regular basis.
• In baking as in the consistency of a cookie dough
• In negotiation, consistency (negotiation) refers to a negotiator's strong psychological need to be consistent with prior acts and statements.
• In business, consistency is an integral component of any brand strategy, as in the need to ensure that a company presents itself and its personality in a uniform, measured fashion. It's such an important part of the branding process that one firm of brand consultants in the UK, consistent media, have even named their business after it.