satisfic

Satisfic is not a widely recognized term in formal reference works, but it is sometimes used as a shorthand to refer to the qualitative notion of satisficing. Satisficing describes a decision-making approach that aims for a satisfactory or adequate outcome rather than the optimal one. The term sits at the intersection of practicality and efficiency, emphasizing acceptable results over perfect optimization.

Etymologically, satisficing blends the ideas of satisfying a need with sufficing to meet a threshold. In formal literature, the concept is typically discussed under the umbrella of satisficing, a term popularized by Herbert A. Simon in the 1950s as part of his theory of bounded rationality. Satisfic is used informally to describe actions, processes, or agents that operate according to this logic—seeking good-enough solutions within constraints such as time, information, or cognitive limits.

In practice, satisficing involves establishing minimum criteria and accepting the first option that meets them, thereby reducing search costs and decision time. It is commonly observed in management, economics, public policy, and computer science. In AI and optimization contexts, satisficing algorithms yield solutions that satisfy a predefined threshold rather than guaranteeing optimality, which can be advantageous in large or complex search spaces.

Limitations of a satisficing approach include the risk of consistently settling for suboptimal outcomes if thresholds are poorly chosen or if long-term consequences are ignored. Context and goals strongly influence whether satisficing is appropriate.

See also: Satisficing, bounded rationality, Herbert A. Simon, optimization.