Robustness, resilience: typology of definitions through a multidisciplinary structured analysis of the literature

Abstract

The concepts of robustness and resilience are used with increasing frequency from different sectors. The literature review reveals several meanings for each of these terms due probably to specific use in each of the sectors and a progressive adjustment of the definitions across the time. The aims of this article are to identify these definitions and the main similarities and difference between the concepts of resilience and robustness and to propose a classification of them in order to avoid confusions, bad meaning and to provide a better understanding of the subtleties under these concepts. Based on a structured analysis of the literature published in journals of different sectors this paper conceptualises and comprehensively presents a systematic review of the recent literature on robustness and resilience definitions. Decision makers and researchers can benefit from our survey since it introduces a structured analysis and recommendations as to which definitions can be used.