34 KiB
--- MAPPING: real-price-of-commodities-to-s1-operations ---
Real Price of Commodities -> System 1 (Operations)
Economic Entity Reference
The intrinsic value of commodities measured by the quantity of labour required to acquire them, representing the actual toil and trouble that must be undergone to obtain them. This differs from nominal price, which is measured in money terms.
VSM Concept Reference
System 1 (S1) represents the primary activities that produce the organisation's purpose. These are the operational units that directly create value through their productive activities. Each operational element is itself a viable system, and they engage directly with the environment to perform the fundamental work of the organisation.
Mapping Rationale
Real price of commodities maps to S1 because it represents the fundamental measure of value created through actual productive labour. Just as S1 units perform the primary value-creating activities in an organisation, the real price reflects the actual toil and trouble that goes into producing commodities - the core operational activity that generates economic value. This mapping captures how the real price is the direct output of productive labour, analogous to how S1 produces the organisation's primary outputs.
Mapping Strength
Strong
--- MAPPING: nominal-price-of-commodities-to-s2-coordination ---
Nominal Price of Commodities -> System 2 (Coordination)
Economic Entity Reference
The price of commodities expressed in monetary terms rather than in the quantity of labour required to acquire them. This represents the conventional market price measured in currency rather than the underlying real value.
VSM Concept Reference
System 2 (S2) consists of the information channels and bodies that allow primary activities to communicate with each other and enable coordination. It dampens oscillations and resolves conflicts between operational units through standardisation and communication mechanisms.
Mapping Rationale
Nominal price maps to S2 because it serves as the standard medium through which different commodities and producers coordinate their activities in the market. Just as S2 provides standardised communication channels that enable coordination between S1 units, nominal prices in money terms provide a common language for comparing and exchanging different commodities, facilitating market coordination. The monetary price system acts as the coordination mechanism that allows diverse productive activities to interact effectively.
Mapping Strength
Strong
--- MAPPING: price-in-labour-to-s1-operations ---
Price in Labour -> System 1 (Operations)
Economic Entity Reference
The measurement of a commodity's value by the quantity of labour it can command or purchase, representing the amount of work that can be obtained in exchange for the commodity. This is Smith's formulation of real price.
VSM Concept Reference
System 1 (S1) represents the primary activities that produce the organisation's purpose. These operational units directly create value through their productive activities and engage with the environment to perform fundamental work.
Mapping Rationale
Price in labour maps to S1 because it represents the fundamental measure of value created through productive labour, which is the core operational activity. Just as S1 units are the primary value-creating activities in an organisation, price in labour reflects the actual productive effort that generates economic value. This mapping captures how the labour-based price is the direct output of operational work, analogous to how S1 produces the organisation's primary outputs through productive activity.
Mapping Strength
Strong
--- MAPPING: price-in-money-to-s2-coordination ---
Price in Money -> System 2 (Coordination)
Economic Entity Reference
The measurement of a commodity's value by the quantity of money it commands in exchange, representing the conventional market price denominated in currency rather than in labour terms.
VSM Concept Reference
System 2 (S2) consists of information channels and coordination mechanisms that allow primary activities to communicate and coordinate with each other, providing standardisation for effective interaction between operational units.
Mapping Rationale
Price in money maps to S2 because it serves as the standardised medium through which different commodities and producers coordinate their market activities. Just as S2 provides standardised communication channels for coordination between S1 units, monetary prices provide a common language for comparing and exchanging different commodities, enabling market coordination. The money-based price system acts as the coordination mechanism that allows diverse productive activities to interact effectively through a shared medium of exchange.
Mapping Strength
Strong
--- MAPPING: toil-and-trouble-of-acquiring-to-s1-operations ---
Toil and Trouble of Acquiring -> System 1 (Operations)
Economic Entity Reference
The actual effort, hardship, and difficulty involved in obtaining commodities or wealth, which Smith identifies as the real cost of acquisition and the fundamental measure of value.
VSM Concept Reference
System 1 (S1) represents the primary activities that produce the organisation's purpose through direct engagement with the environment. These operational units perform the fundamental work and face the actual difficulties of production.
Mapping Rationale
Toil and trouble of acquiring maps to S1 because it represents the actual effort and hardship involved in productive activities - the core operational work. Just as S1 units directly engage with the environment and perform the fundamental productive activities while facing real difficulties, the toil and trouble represents the actual operational challenges and effort required to produce value. This mapping captures how the real cost of acquisition is the direct experience of operational units performing their primary work.
Mapping Strength
Strong
--- MAPPING: command-over-labour-to-s3-control ---
Command Over Labour -> System 3 (Control)
Economic Entity Reference
The power that wealth confers to direct and employ the labour of others, measured by the quantity of labour that can be purchased or commanded through the possession of commodities or money.
VSM Concept Reference
System 3 (S3) represents the structures and controls that establish rules, resources, and responsibilities for System 1 operations. It provides day-to-day control and resource allocation, managing the internal environment of the organisation.
Mapping Rationale
Command over labour maps to S3 because it represents the power to direct and control productive resources, which is the essence of operational management. Just as S3 establishes rules and allocates resources to coordinate System 1 activities, command over labour represents the ability to direct productive resources and organise labour for economic purposes. This mapping captures how the power to command labour is the fundamental control mechanism in economic systems, analogous to how S3 controls and coordinates operational activities.
Mapping Strength
Strong
--- MAPPING: exchangeable-value-to-s1-operations ---
Exchangeable Value -> System 1 (Operations)
Economic Entity Reference
The worth of a commodity in terms of what it can be exchanged for in the market, determined by the quantity of labour it can command or purchase rather than by its utility or nominal price.
VSM Concept Reference
System 1 (S1) represents the primary activities that produce the organisation's purpose through direct engagement with the environment. These operational units create value through their productive activities and exchange their outputs in the market.
Mapping Rationale
Exchangeable value maps to S1 because it represents the fundamental worth of commodities produced through operational activities. Just as S1 units create value through their productive activities and exchange their outputs, exchangeable value captures the worth of these operational outputs in terms of what they can command in exchange. This mapping captures how the exchangeable value is the direct result of operational production, analogous to how S1 produces the organisation's primary outputs that have value in exchange.
Mapping Strength
Strong
--- MAPPING: measure-of-exchangeable-value-to-s2-coordination ---
Measure of Exchangeable Value -> System 2 (Coordination)
Economic Entity Reference
The standard by which the relative worth of different commodities can be compared and evaluated, which Smith argues is labour because it provides a universal and accurate basis for comparison.
VSM Concept Reference
System 2 (S2) consists of information channels and coordination mechanisms that allow primary activities to communicate and coordinate with each other through standardisation and common measures.
Mapping Rationale
Measure of exchangeable value maps to S2 because it serves as the standardisation mechanism that enables coordination between different commodities and producers. Just as S2 provides standardised communication channels that allow diverse operational units to coordinate effectively, the measure of exchangeable value provides a common standard for comparing different commodities, enabling market coordination. This mapping captures how the measure of value acts as the coordination mechanism that allows diverse productive activities to interact through a shared standard of comparison.
Mapping Strength
Strong
--- MAPPING: real-measure-of-value-to-s1-operations ---
Real Measure of Value -> System 1 (Operations)
Economic Entity Reference
The fundamental standard that accurately reflects the true worth of commodities, which Smith identifies as labour because it represents the actual effort required to produce goods.
VSM Concept Reference
System 1 (S1) represents the primary activities that produce the organisation's purpose through direct engagement with the environment, creating value through actual productive effort.
Mapping Rationale
Real measure of value maps to S1 because it represents the fundamental standard based on actual productive effort, which is the core of operational activity. Just as S1 units create value through their direct productive activities, the real measure of value captures the worth based on actual labour effort - the fundamental operational output. This mapping captures how the real measure reflects the direct result of operational work, analogous to how S1 produces the organisation's primary outputs through actual productive effort.
Mapping Strength
Strong
--- MAPPING: nominal-measure-of-value-to-s2-coordination ---
Nominal Measure of Value -> System 2 (Coordination)
Economic Entity Reference
The conventional standard used to express the price of commodities, typically money, which provides a convenient but less accurate representation of true value compared to labour as the real measure.
VSM Concept Reference
System 2 (S2) consists of information channels and coordination mechanisms that provide standardised communication and common measures for effective interaction between operational units.
Mapping Rationale
Nominal measure of value maps to S2 because it serves as the conventional standard that facilitates coordination between different economic actors. Just as S2 provides standardised communication channels for coordination between S1 units, the nominal measure in money terms provides a common language for comparing and exchanging different commodities, enabling market coordination. This mapping captures how the nominal measure acts as the coordination mechanism that allows diverse productive activities to interact through a shared conventional standard.
Mapping Strength
Strong
--- MAPPING: fluctuations-in-value-of-gold-and-silver-to-s3-control ---
Fluctuations in Value of Gold and Silver -> System 3 (Control)
Economic Entity Reference
The variations in the purchasing power and worth of precious metals over time, caused by changes in mine productivity, discoveries of new sources, and shifts in market conditions.
VSM Concept Reference
System 3 (S3) represents the structures and controls that manage the internal environment, including resource allocation and regulation of operational activities to maintain stability.
Mapping Rationale
Fluctuations in value of gold and silver map to S3 because they represent a key factor that requires management and control within the economic system. Just as S3 manages internal stability by regulating operational activities, the fluctuations in precious metal values require regulatory attention and control mechanisms to maintain monetary stability. This mapping captures how the management of monetary value fluctuations is a control function, analogous to how S3 controls and regulates the internal environment of an organisation.
Mapping Strength
Strong
--- MAPPING: market-price-adjustment-to-s2-coordination ---
Market Price Adjustment -> System 2 (Coordination)
Economic Entity Reference
The process by which prices are determined through the higgling and bargaining of the market, adjusting according to supply, demand, and the relative difficulty of different types of labour.
VSM Concept Reference
System 2 (S2) consists of information channels and coordination mechanisms that allow primary activities to communicate and coordinate with each other, dampening oscillations and resolving conflicts through market processes.
Mapping Rationale
Market price adjustment maps to S2 because it represents the natural coordination mechanism through which different producers and commodities interact in the market. Just as S2 provides the coordination channels that allow S1 units to communicate and resolve conflicts, market price adjustment serves as the natural mechanism for coordinating supply and demand between different producers. This mapping captures how price adjustment acts as the market's coordination system, analogous to how S2 coordinates operational activities through information flow and standardisation.
Mapping Strength
Strong
--- MAPPING: higgling-and-bargaining-of-the-market-to-s2-coordination ---
Higgling and Bargaining of the Market -> System 2 (Coordination)
Economic Entity Reference
The process of negotiation and price discovery through which market participants adjust prices based on their perceptions of value, difficulty of production, and relative scarcity.
VSM Concept Reference
System 2 (S2) consists of information channels and coordination mechanisms that allow primary activities to communicate with each other, enabling negotiation and conflict resolution between operational units.
Mapping Rationale
Higgling and bargaining of the market maps to S2 because it represents the direct negotiation process that coordinates different economic actors. Just as S2 provides the channels for communication and conflict resolution between S1 units, the market's negotiation process serves as the mechanism for coordinating different producers and consumers. This mapping captures how market negotiation acts as the coordination system, analogous to how S2 coordinates operational activities through direct communication and bargaining processes.
Mapping Strength
Strong
--- MAPPING: legal-tender-to-s3-control ---
Legal Tender -> System 3 (Control)
Economic Entity Reference
The legally recognised form of payment that creditors must accept to discharge a debt, which Smith discusses in the context of different metals being designated as acceptable forms of payment.
VSM Concept Reference
System 3 (S3) represents the structures and controls that establish rules, resources, and responsibilities for System 1 operations, including regulatory frameworks that govern economic activity.
Mapping Rationale
Legal tender maps to S3 because it represents a regulatory control mechanism that governs economic transactions. Just as S3 establishes rules and frameworks for operational activities, legal tender regulations establish the official rules for monetary transactions and debt settlement. This mapping captures how legal tender functions as a control mechanism, analogous to how S3 controls and regulates the internal economic environment through official rules and frameworks.
Mapping Strength
Strong
--- MAPPING: seignorage-to-s3-control ---
Seignorage -> System 3 (Control)
Economic Entity Reference
The difference between the value of money and the cost to produce and distribute it, which Smith discusses as a potential source of government revenue and a factor affecting the value of coin.
VSM Concept Reference
System 3 (S3) represents the structures and controls that manage the internal environment, including resource allocation and regulatory mechanisms that affect the value and stability of the system.
Mapping Rationale
Seignorage maps to S3 because it represents a control mechanism that affects the value and stability of the monetary system. Just as S3 manages internal stability through regulatory controls, seignorage represents a government control over the monetary system that affects its value and operation. This mapping captures how seignorage functions as a regulatory control, analogous to how S3 controls and regulates the internal economic environment through mechanisms that affect value and stability.
Mapping Strength
Strong
--- MAPPING: mint-price-to-s3-control ---
Mint Price -> System 3 (Control)
Economic Entity Reference
The official price at which the mint will coin bullion into currency, which Smith uses as a reference point for discussing the relationship between market prices and official valuations of precious metals.
VSM Concept Reference
System 3 (S3) represents the structures and controls that establish official rules and reference points for managing the internal environment of the organisation.
Mapping Rationale
Mint price maps to S3 because it represents an official control mechanism that establishes reference values for the monetary system. Just as S3 establishes official rules and reference points for managing operational activities, the mint price serves as an official benchmark that controls and regulates the relationship between bullion and currency. This mapping captures how the mint price functions as a regulatory control, analogous to how S3 controls and regulates the internal economic environment through official reference points and benchmarks.
Mapping Strength
Strong
--- MAPPING: market-price-of-bullion-to-s2-coordination ---
Market Price of Bullion -> System 2 (Coordination)
Economic Entity Reference
The price at which gold and silver bullion actually trades in the market, which Smith shows fluctuates around the mint price based on supply, demand, and the quality of the coinage.
VSM Concept Reference
System 2 (S2) consists of information channels and coordination mechanisms that allow primary activities to communicate with each other, including market processes that coordinate supply and demand.
Mapping Rationale
Market price of bullion maps to S2 because it represents the natural coordination mechanism through which different participants in the bullion market interact. Just as S2 provides coordination channels that allow diverse operational units to interact effectively, the market price of bullion serves as the mechanism for coordinating supply and demand between different bullion traders and users. This mapping captures how the market price acts as the coordination system for bullion transactions, analogous to how S2 coordinates operational activities through market information and price signals.
Mapping Strength
Strong
--- MAPPING: standard-weight-of-coin-to-s3-control ---
Standard Weight of Coin -> System 3 (Control)
Economic Entity Reference
The officially designated weight and fineness of precious metal that coins should contain, which Smith discusses as a crucial factor in maintaining the value and reliability of currency.
VSM Concept Reference
System 3 (S3) represents the structures and controls that establish official rules, standards, and responsibilities for System 1 operations, including regulatory frameworks that govern economic activity.
Mapping Rationale
Standard weight of coin maps to S3 because it represents an official regulatory control that establishes standards for monetary operations. Just as S3 establishes official rules and standards for operational activities, the standard weight of coin serves as an official benchmark that controls and regulates the quality and value of currency. This mapping captures how the standard weight functions as a regulatory control, analogous to how S3 controls and regulates the internal economic environment through official standards and benchmarks.
Mapping Strength
Strong
--- MAPPING: degradation-of-coin-to-s3-control ---
Degradation of Coin -> System 3 (Control)
Economic Entity Reference
The process by which coins lose value through wear, clipping, or official reduction in their precious metal content, which Smith identifies as a major source of monetary instability.
VSM Concept Reference
System 3 (S3) represents the structures and controls that manage the internal environment, including mechanisms for maintaining stability and addressing factors that threaten system integrity.
Mapping Rationale
Degradation of coin maps to S3 because it represents a factor that requires regulatory control and management within the monetary system. Just as S3 manages internal stability by addressing factors that threaten system integrity, the degradation of coin requires regulatory attention and control mechanisms to maintain monetary stability. This mapping captures how the management of coin degradation is a control function, analogous to how S3 controls and regulates the internal environment by addressing factors that threaten system stability.
Mapping Strength
Strong
--- MAPPING: corn-rent-to-s1-operations ---
Corn Rent -> System 1 (Operations)
Economic Entity Reference
A form of rent payment specified in terms of a quantity of grain rather than a fixed sum of money, which Smith argues preserves its real value better than money rents because corn prices are more stable over time.
VSM Concept Reference
System 1 (S1) represents the primary activities that produce the organisation's purpose through direct engagement with the environment, creating value through actual productive activities.
Mapping Rationale
Corn rent maps to S1 because it represents a direct form of value tied to actual productive output rather than monetary abstraction. Just as S1 units create value through their direct productive activities and engagement with the environment, corn rent represents value directly linked to actual agricultural production. This mapping captures how corn rent reflects the fundamental operational output, analogous to how S1 produces the organisation's primary outputs through direct productive engagement.
Mapping Strength
Strong
--- MAPPING: money-rent-to-s3-control ---
Money Rent -> System 3 (Control)
Economic Entity Reference
A form of rent payment specified as a fixed sum of money rather than in kind, which Smith argues is vulnerable to loss of real value through monetary debasement and fluctuations in the value of precious metals.
VSM Concept Reference
System 3 (S3) represents the structures and controls that manage the internal environment, including regulatory mechanisms that affect the value and stability of economic relationships.
Mapping Rationale
Money rent maps to S3 because it represents a form of economic relationship that is subject to control and regulation within the monetary system. Just as S3 manages internal stability through regulatory controls, money rent represents a contractual relationship that is affected by monetary controls and regulations. This mapping captures how money rent functions within the controlled monetary environment, analogous to how S3 controls and regulates economic relationships through monetary mechanisms.
Mapping Strength
Strong
--- MAPPING: real-value-of-corn-rent-to-s1-operations ---
Real Value of Corn Rent -> System 1 (Operations)
Economic Entity Reference
The actual purchasing power of a corn rent in terms of the labour or other commodities it can command, which Smith argues varies less over long periods than the nominal value of money rents.
VSM Concept Reference
System 1 (S1) represents the primary activities that produce the organisation's purpose through direct engagement with the environment, creating value that has real purchasing power in terms of actual goods and services.
Mapping Rationale
Real value of corn rent maps to S1 because it represents the actual purchasing power derived from real productive output rather than monetary abstraction. Just as S1 units create value through their direct productive activities that have real purchasing power, the real value of corn rent reflects the actual command over goods and services derived from real agricultural production. This mapping captures how the real value represents the fundamental operational output, analogous to how S1 produces outputs that have real value in terms of actual goods and services.
Mapping Strength
Strong
--- MAPPING: average-price-of-corn-to-s2-coordination ---
Average Price of Corn -> System 2 (Coordination)
Economic Entity Reference
The typical or ordinary price of grain over time, which Smith identifies as a more stable measure than annual fluctuations and uses as a reference point for understanding long-term price trends.
VSM Concept Reference
System 2 (S2) consists of information channels and coordination mechanisms that provide standardised measures and reference points for effective interaction between operational units.
Mapping Rationale
Average price of corn maps to S2 because it serves as a standardised reference point that coordinates understanding of value across different time periods and market participants. Just as S2 provides standardised communication channels and reference points for coordination between S1 units, the average price of corn provides a common standard for understanding grain values over time. This mapping captures how the average price acts as the coordination mechanism for grain markets, analogous to how S2 coordinates operational activities through standardised reference points.
Mapping Strength
Strong
--- MAPPING: temporary-price-of-corn-to-s2-coordination ---
Temporary Price of Corn -> System 2 (Coordination)
Economic Entity Reference
The price of grain in any particular year, which Smith shows can fluctuate significantly from the average price due to temporary variations in supply and demand.
VSM Concept Reference
System 2 (S2) consists of information channels and coordination mechanisms that allow primary activities to communicate with each other, including market processes that coordinate supply and demand through price signals.
Mapping Rationale
Temporary price of corn maps to S2 because it represents the market's coordination mechanism for responding to short-term supply and demand variations. Just as S2 provides the coordination channels that allow S1 units to respond to changing conditions, temporary prices serve as the market's mechanism for coordinating grain supply and demand in response to annual variations. This mapping captures how temporary prices act as the coordination system for grain markets, analogous to how S2 coordinates operational activities through market information and price signals.
Mapping Strength
Strong
--- MAPPING: value-of-silver-to-s3-control ---
Value of Silver -> System 3 (Control)
Economic Entity Reference
The purchasing power of silver in terms of the labour or commodities it can command, which Smith shows varies over time due to changes in mine productivity and market conditions.
VSM Concept Reference
System 3 (S3) represents the structures and controls that manage the internal environment, including mechanisms for regulating the value and stability of monetary systems.
Mapping Rationale
Value of silver maps to S3 because it represents a factor that requires management and control within the monetary system. Just as S3 manages internal stability by regulating factors that affect system value, the value of silver requires regulatory attention and control mechanisms to maintain monetary stability. This mapping captures how the management of silver's value is a control function, analogous to how S3 controls and regulates the internal economic environment through monetary mechanisms.
Mapping Strength
Strong
--- MAPPING: value-of-gold-to-s3-control ---
Value of Gold -> System 3 (Control)
Economic Entity Reference
The purchasing power of gold in terms of the labour or commodities it can command, which Smith discusses in relation to silver and shows varies with changes in mine productivity and market conditions.
VSM Concept Reference
System 3 (S3) represents the structures and controls that manage the internal environment, including regulatory mechanisms that affect the value and stability of monetary systems.
Mapping Rationale
Value of gold maps to S3 because it represents a factor that requires regulatory control and management within the monetary system. Just as S3 manages internal stability through regulatory controls, the value of gold requires regulatory attention and control mechanisms to maintain monetary stability. This mapping captures how the management of gold's value is a control function, analogous to how S3 controls and regulates the internal economic environment through monetary mechanisms.
Mapping Strength
Strong
--- MAPPING: proportion-between-metals-to-s3-control ---
Proportion Between Metals -> System 3 (Control)
Economic Entity Reference
The official or market-determined ratio at which different precious metals exchange for each other, which Smith discusses as a key factor in determining the relative value of different forms of money.
VSM Concept Reference
System 3 (S3) represents the structures and controls that establish official rules, ratios, and frameworks for managing the internal environment of the organisation.
Mapping Rationale
Proportion between metals maps to S3 because it represents an official regulatory control that establishes ratios for monetary operations. Just as S3 establishes official rules and frameworks for managing operational activities, the proportion between metals serves as an official benchmark that controls and regulates the relationship between different forms of money. This mapping captures how the proportion between metals functions as a regulatory control, analogous to how S3 controls and regulates the internal economic environment through official ratios and frameworks.
Mapping Strength
Strong
--- MAPPING: standard-metal-to-s3-control ---
Standard Metal -> System 3 (Control)
Economic Entity Reference
The precious metal that serves as the primary basis for a nation's currency and value measurements, which Smith discusses in the context of how different societies designate different metals as their monetary standard.
VSM Concept Reference
System 3 (S3) represents the structures and controls that establish official standards and frameworks for managing the internal environment of the organisation.
Mapping Rationale
Standard metal maps to S3 because it represents an official regulatory standard that establishes the basis for monetary operations. Just as S3 establishes official standards and frameworks for managing operational activities, the standard metal serves as the official basis that controls and regulates the monetary system. This mapping captures how the standard metal functions as a regulatory control, analogous to how S3 controls and regulates the internal economic environment through official standards and frameworks.
Mapping Strength
Strong
--- MAPPING: non-standard-metal-to-s2-coordination ---
Non-Standard Metal -> System 2 (Coordination)
Economic Entity Reference
Precious metals that are used as money but are not the primary standard for value measurements, which Smith discusses in relation to how they function within monetary systems.
VSM Concept Reference
System 2 (S2) consists of information channels and coordination mechanisms that allow primary activities to communicate with each other, including market processes that coordinate different forms of value.
Mapping Rationale
Non-standard metal maps to S2 because it represents a form of value that coordinates with the standard metal in market transactions. Just as S2 provides coordination channels that allow diverse operational units to interact effectively, non-standard metals coordinate with standard metals in the market through exchange relationships. This mapping captures how non-standard metals act as coordination mechanisms in the monetary system, analogous to how S2 coordinates operational activities through market information and exchange relationships.
Mapping Strength
Strong
--- MAPPING: copper-money-to-s2-coordination ---
Copper Money -> System 2 (Coordination)
Economic Entity Reference
The lowest denomination of metallic currency, typically used for small transactions, which Smith discusses in the context of different metals serving different monetary functions.
VSM Concept Reference
System 2 (S2) consists of information channels and coordination mechanisms that allow primary activities to communicate with each other, including market processes that coordinate different forms of value and transaction types.
Mapping Rationale
Copper money maps to S2 because it represents a form of monetary value that coordinates small-scale transactions within the broader monetary system. Just as S2 provides coordination channels that allow diverse operational units to interact effectively at different scales, copper money coordinates small transactions