A simple superposition model was used to define the relationship between molecular weight distribution and shear viscosity for linear polymeric systems. Gel permeation chromatography data for molecular weight distributions were fitted using statistical distribution functions. A simple superposition model was then employed to calculate the shear viscosity for the systems investigated. The effect of polydispersity on the shape of the flow curves was calculated. The simplicity of the model makes feasible its use in numerical simulations of complex geometries as encountered in polymer processing equipment. The present study also sheds some light on the relationship between entanglement and disentanglement phenomena in polymeric systems.