On

On the
the Various
Various
Conceptualizations
Conceptualizations of
of Systems
Systems
…and
…and Their
Their Impact
Impact on
on the
the Practice
Practice of
of
Systems
Systems Engineering
Engineering

2008 INCOSE Symposium

James N Martin
Timothy L J Ferris

© 2008 The Aerospace Corporation & Timothy L J Ferris 1

 Systems Thinking


 “A
“A system
system is
is aa way
way of
of looking
looking at
at the
the world.”
world.”


 “…
“… aa system,
system, any
any system,
system, is
is the
the point
point of
of
view
view of
of one
one or
or several
several observers.”
observers.”

Gerald M. Weinberg (1975),

An Introduction to General Systems Thinking
2
 System as a “Point of View”

Image Thing

Point of View

Observer

3
 Two
Two Observers  Two
Observers  Two Systems
Systems

Image Thing

Point of View

Observers

4
 Some Recent History

• The Solar System (2005)

 The Sun plus 9 Planets

• The Solar System (2006)

 The Sun plus 8 Planets

5
 Our Choice…
• The things we “put” into our System
– Are things of our own Choosing
– Are there for the purpose of Understanding
– Are not pre-determined by some magical “Rules of
Inclusion”

• We must choose Carefully

– A wrong choice could lead to incorrect Understanding
– We often don’t know a priori what is the best
Rule of Inclusion to use
– May need to experiment with different possible
System boundaries & configurations

6
7
8
9
10
11
12
A Common (Mis)Perception

System = Sum of Parts

That We Design & Build

13
System Parts

14
 Parts – Also Known As…

• Subsystems • Subassemblies

• Elements • Components

• Products • Items

• Devices • Units

15
What are the Parts of this System ?
• Camera Lens Assembly
• Flash Device
• Electronic Circuit
• User Interface Unit

• Carrying Case
• Shipping Container
• Instructions
• Technique for Holding
• Extra batteries
• Photo Printer
• Patents
16
We need to Imagine more than just
the things we build…

17
 What Types of Parts Constitute a
System?

 Hardware and Software ??

 Hardware and Software and People ??

18
 Types
Types of
of System
System Parts
Parts

BASIC
BASIC
PART
PARTTYPES
TYPES

HARDWARE SOFTWARE PERSONNEL FACILITIES

DATA MATERIALS SERVICES TECHNIQUES

PATENT

19
 More Than Just Parts…

System = Sum of Parts

+ Interactions

20
How many ways to Interact ?

21
Which is the best way to Interact ?

?
22
 Beyond Interactions…

System = Sum of Parts

+ Interactions

+ Context

23
Context 1

PART PART

PART PART

Context 2

PART PART
PART PART

24
 Beyond Context…

System = Sum of Parts

+ Interactions + Context
+ Actions

25
Camera Actions

26
Action Diagrams

27
 Action in Different Contexts

Context A

Action Action
1 2

Context B

Action Action
1 3

28
 Beyond Actions…

System = Sum of Parts

+ Interactions + Context
+ Actions + Relationships

29
 Relationship Types

• Interpersonal
– Family, Friends, Social, Organizational, …
• Mathematical
– Equality, Order, Topological, Functionality, …
• Cause-Effect
– Event-Driven, Probabilistic, …
• Physical Properties
– Forces, Fields, Chemical effects, …

30
 Entity-Relationship Pairs

Entity A Rain

Related to Causes

Wet
Entity B
Ground

31
 Relationship Examples

Balls Road

Inside Brings traffic to

and from

Box Building

32
Observing System Relationships

Observing Data Handling

User
System provides System provides
data to info to

33
Observing System Relationships

Observing Data Handling

User
System provides System provides
data to info to
is type
of

Stake-
holder

has

Stakeholder
Requirement

34
Observing System Relationships

Observing Data Handling

User
System provides System provides
data to info to
is type
of
< drives
Stake-
holder

has

Stakeholder
Requirement
Environmental
Phenomenon
Basic Service
< drives Requirement < drives

35
Observing System Relationships

Observing Data Handling

User
System provides System provides
data to info to
contains
is type
of
< drives
Stake-
Sensing measures
holder
Element
is a Environmental has
Parameter
characterizes Stakeholder
Sensor Human Requirement
Environmental
Phenomenon
Basic Service
< drives Requirement < drives

36
 Observing System Relationships

provides data directly to

Observing Data Handling

User
System provides System provides
data to info to
contains
is type
situated on of
Platform / < drives
Station
located Stake-
at Sensing measures
holder
Element
Location
is a Environmental has
is Parameter
characterizes Stakeholder
Fixed Mobile Sensor Human Requirement

Space Space
Environmental
Phenomenon
Air Air
Ground Ground
Basic Service
< drives Requirement < drives
Ocean Ocean
37
 Observing System Relationships
is controlled by Observation
Owner Larger Control System
Support System
supported owned part of provides data directly to
by by

Observing Data Handling

Operator operated by
User
System provides System provides
data to info to
contains
is type
situated on of
Platform / < drives
Station
located Stake-
at Sensing measures
holder
Element
Location
is a Environmental has
is Parameter
characterizes Stakeholder
Fixed Mobile Sensor Human Requirement

Space Space
Environmental
Phenomenon
Air Air
Ground Ground
Basic Service
< drives Requirement < drives
Ocean Ocean
38
 Observing System Relationships
is controlled by Observation
Owner Larger Control System
Support System
supported owned part of provides data directly to
by by

Observing Data Handling

Operator operated by
User
System provides System provides
data to info to
contains
is type
situated on of
Platform / < drives
Station
located Stake-
at Sensing measures
holder
Element
Location
is a Environmental has
is Parameter
characterizes Stakeholder
Fixed Mobile Sensor Human Requirement

Space Space
Environmental
Phenomenon
Air Air
Ground Ground
Basic Service
< drives Requirement < drives
Ocean Ocean
39
 And Finally…

System = Sum of Parts

+ Interactions + Context
+ Actions + Relationships
+ Destiny
40
 Destiny Impact

Purpose
41
 PICARD Theory of Systems

Parts
Interactions
Holistic Context
System = Image of
Actions
Relationships
Destiny

From the Point of View of an Observer

42
 Systems are “Imaginary”

Image Thing

Point of View

Observer

43
 System – Seen by Operator
is controlled by Observation
Owner Larger Control System
Support System
supported owned part of provides data directly to
by by

Observing Data Handling

Operator operated by User
System provides System provides
data to info to
contains
is type
situated on of
Platform / < drives
Station
Stake-
Sensing measures
holder
Element
Location
is a Environmental has
is Parameter
characterizes Stakeholder
Fixed Mobile Sensor Human Requirement

Space Space
Environmental
Phenomenon
Air Air
Ground Ground
Basic Service
< drives Requirement < drives
Ocean Ocean
44
 System – Seen by User
is controlled by Observation
Owner Larger Control System
Support System
supported owned part of provides data directly to
by by

Observing Data Handling

Operator operated by
User
System provides System provides
data to info to
contains
is type
situated on of
Platform / < drives
Station
Stake-
Sensing measures
holder
Element
Location
is a Environmental has
is Parameter
characterizes Stakeholder
Fixed Mobile Sensor Human Requirement

Space Space
Environmental
Phenomenon
Air Air
Ground Ground
Basic Service
< drives Requirement < drives
Ocean Ocean
45
 System – Seen by Developer
is controlled by Observation
Owner Larger Control System
Support System
provides dataIF
directly to
supported
by
owned
by IF
part of
IF

Operator IF Observing Data Handling

IF User
operated by System provides System provides
data to info to
contains
is type
situated on of
Platform / < drives
Station
Stake-
Sensing measures
IF Element
holder
Location
is a Environmental has
is Parameter IF
characterizes Stakeholder
Fixed Mobile Sensor Human IF
Requirement

Space Space
Environmental
Phenomenon
Air Air
Ground Ground
Basic Service
< drives Requirement < drives
Ocean Ocean
46
 System – Seen by GEOSS
is controlled by Observation
Owner Larger Control System
Support System
supported owned part of provides data directly to
by by

Observing Data Handling

Operator operated by
User
System provides System provides
data to info to
contains
is type
situated on of
Platform / < drives
Station
Stake-
Sensing measures
holder
Element
Location
is a Environmental has
is Parameter
characterizes Stakeholder
Fixed Mobile Sensor Human Requirement

Space Space
Environmental
Phenomenon
Air Air
Ground Ground
Basic Service
< drives Requirement < drives
Ocean Ocean
47
 System – Seen by NOAA Director
is controlled by Observation
Owner Larger Control System
Support System
supported owned part of provides data directly to
by by

Observing Data Handling

Operator operated by
User
System provides System provides
data to info to
contains
is type
situated on of
Platform / < drives
Station
Stake-
Sensing measures
holder
Element
Location
is a Environmental has
is Parameter
characterizes Stakeholder
Fixed Mobile Sensor Human Requirement

Space Space
Environmental
Phenomenon
Air Air
Ground Ground
Basic Service
< drives Requirement < drives
Ocean Ocean
48
 Systems Thinking


 “A
“A system
system is
is aa way
way of
of looking
looking at
at the
the world.”
world.”


 “…
“… aa system,
system, any
any system,
system, is
is the
the point
point of
of
view
view of
of one
one or
or several
several observers.”
observers.”

Gerald M. Weinberg (1975),

An Introduction to General Systems Thinking
49
 Postscript

 All models are wrong, some are useful

– George Box

 All systems are imaginary, some are useful

– James Martin

Models
Models cancan bebe used
used to
to
facilitate
facilitate the
the imagination
imagination
50