Don´t step on the distribution´s tail! Investigating the impact of random fluctuations on efficient resource utilization

It is sometimes assumed that the total amount of a resource being consumed is the key consideration when attempting to devise the most efficient management strategy. We explore a case in which the rate and timing of resource utilization are also susceptible to impact on performance and illustrate how bringing random fluctuations under control can help maximize efficiency in a simple client-server scenario. The role of self-organization and distributed control methods in achieving this goal is briefly discussed.