The ZTH Structural Model: A Systemic Indicator for Tension-Based Analysis of Complex Systems

In many engineering and management settings, value is assessed through trade-offs between quality (Q), cost (C) and delivery time (D). This article establishes the structural foundations of the ZTH (Zone of Tension Harmonic) model, a domain-neutral framework that generalizes this QCD triangle into a six-dimensional tension space and defines value as a function of these tensions. Six tensions: Resource, Quality, Impact, Cost, Delay and Risk, are organized through promoter-inhibitor polarities and mapped onto a common scale. Normalized tension scores are transformed into strictly positive structural factors and combined through a multiplicative formulation to yield a systemic indicator V, expressing degradation, nominal equilibrium or amplification. A one-dimensional value scale supports interpretation of V, while radar plots visualize the underlying tension profiles. Five theoretical configurations illustrate how distinct tension patterns occupy different structural zones. This first contribution provides the mathematical basis of ZTH; subsequent work addresses intrinsic value, temporal dynamics and perceived deviation.