IEEE SMC 2005 Conference Theme

System-of-Systems Engineering - a Definition

 

Mo Jamshidi

 

General Chairman, IEEE SMC 2005, October 10-12, Big Island, Hawaii

 

Complex large-scale systems have been around for over 3 decades in the US and overseas. Traditionally, a system is said to be complex if its attributes are commonly out of the norm, as compared with other systems. Complex systems are characterized by having a large number of dimensions, nonlinear or nonexistent models, strong interactions, unknown or inherently random plant parameters, time delays in the dynamical structure, etc. [1]

 

In recent years, there has been a growing recognition that significant changes need to be made in governments and industries, especially in the aerospace and defense areas. Today, major aerospace and defense manufacturers, including (but not limited to) Boeing, Lockheed-Martin, Northrop-Grumman, Raytheon, and BAE Systems, etc. all include some version of "large-scale systems integration" as a key part of their business strategies.  In some cases, these companies have even established entire business units dedicated to systems integration activities [2].

 

Sage and Cuppan [3] point out that there is no universally accepted definition of systems of systems. Since System of Systems (SoS) is in its early stages of development, we would expect this to be the case. There are numerous definitions for SoS and System of Systems Engineering (SoSE). Below are 6 of the more common definitions (with primary focus and application domain) as reported in the literature [4]: 

 

Definition 1: Sage and Cuppan [2]

Systems of systems exist when there is a presence of a majority of the following five characteristics: operational and managerial independence, geographic distribution, emergent behavior, and evolutionary development. Primary focus: Evolutionary acquisition of complex adaptive systems. Application: Military. 

 

Definition 2: Kotov [5]

Systems of systems are large scale concurrent and distributed systems that are comprised of complex systems. Primary focus: Information systems. Application: Private Enterprise. 

 

Definition 3: Carlock and Fenton [6]

Enterprise Systems of Systems Engineering is focused on coupling traditional systems engineering activities with enterprise activities of strategic planning and investment analysis. Primary focus: Information intensive systems. Application: Private Enterprise. 

 

Definition 4: Pei [7]

System of Systems Integration is a method to pursue development, integration, interoperability, and optimization of systems to enhance performance in future battlefield scenarios. Primary focus: Information intensive systems integration. Application: Military. 

 

Definition 5: Lukasik [8]

SoSE involves the integration of systems into systems of systems that ultimately contribute to evolution of the social infrastructure. Primary focus: Education of engineers to appreciate systems and interaction of systems. Application: Education. 

 

Definition 6: Manthorpe [9]

In relation to joint warfighting, system of systems is concerned with interoperability and synergism of Command, Control, Computers, Communications, and Information (C4I) and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Systems. Primary focus: Information superiority. Application: Military.

 

All of these definitions have their own merits, depending on their application. This author's favorite definition is number 2. More can be found in the following references.

 

 

REFERENCES 

 

[1] Jamshidi, M., Large-Scale Systems - Modeling and Control, North-Holland Publishing Company, New York, NY, 1983 (Also 2nd Edition, prentice Hall, 1997).

 

[2] Crossley, W.A., "System of Systems: An Introduction of Purdue University Schools of Engineering's Signature Area."

 

[3] Sage, A.P. and C.D. Cuppan, "On the Systems Engineering and Management of Systems of Systems and Federations of Systems," Information, Knowledge, Systems Management, Vol. 2, No. 4 (2001), pp. 325-345.

 

[4] Keating, C. B., Fernandez, A., Jacobs, D., and P. Kauffmann, "A Methodology for Analysis of Complex Socio-technical Processes," Business Process Management Journal, Vol. 7, No. 1 (2001), pp. 33-49.

 

[5] Kotov, V., "Systems of Systems as Communicating Structures," Hewlett Packard Computer Systems Laboratory Paper HPL-97-124, (1997), pp. 1-15.

 

[6] Carlock, P.G., and R.E. Fenton, "System of Systems (SoS) Enterprise Systems for Information-Intensive Organizations," Systems Engineering, Vol. 4, No. 4 (2001), pp. 242-261.

 

[7] Pei, R.S., "Systems of Systems Integration (SoSI) - A Smart Way of Acquiring Army C4I2WS Systems," Proceedings of the Summer Computer Simulation Conference, (2000), pp. 574-579.

 

[8] Luskasik, S.J., "Systems, Systems of Systems, and the Education of Engineers," Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Design, Analysis, and Manufacturing, Vol. 12, No. 1 (1998), pp. 55-60.

 

[9] Manthorpe, W.H., "The Emerging Joint System of Systems: A Systems Engineering Challenge and Opportunity for APL," John Hopkins APL Technical Digest, Vol. 17, No. 3 (1996), pp. 305-310.

 

[10] Blanchard, B., and W. Fabrycky, Systems Engineering and Analysis, 3rd ed., Prentice-Hall (1998).

 

[11] Checkland, P., Systems Thinking, Systems Practice, 1st ed., Wiley (1981).

 

[12] Checkland, P., Systems Thinking, Systems Practice, 2nd ed., Wiley (1999).

 

[13] ECSS-E-10-01, System Engineering Process, European Cooperation for Space Standardization (1996).

 

[14] EIA/IS 632, Systems Engineering, EIA (1994). EIA/IS 731.1, Systems Engineering Capability Model, EIA (1998).

 

[15] Flood, R.L., and E.R. Carson, Dealing With Complexity, 2nd ed., Plenum (1993).

 

[16] Gibson, J., How to do Systems Analysis, Unpublished Manuscript (1991).

 

[17] Grady, J.O., Systems Engineering Deployment, CRC Press (2000).

 

[18] IEEE P1220, Standard for Application and Management of the Systems Engineering Process, IEEE (1994).

 

[19] Jackson, M.C., Systems Methodology for the Management Sciences, Perseus (1991).

 

[20] Martin, J.N., Systems Engineering Guidebook, CRC Press: Boca Raton (1997).

 

[21] MIL-STD-499A, Military Standard, Engineering Management, Department of Defense (1974).

 

[22] MIL-STD-499B, Military Standard, Systems Engineering, Draft, Department of Defense (1992).

 

[23] Mitroff, I., Smart Thinking for Crazy Times, Berrett-Koehler (1998).

 

[24] Rechtin, E., and M. Maier, The Art of Systems Architecting, 2nd ed., CRC Press (2000).

 

[25] Sage, A.P., Systems Engineering, Wiley (1992).

 

[26] Schön, D., "Toward a New Epistemology of Practice," Chap. in Strategic Perspectives on Planning, ed. Checkoway, B., Lexington (1986), pp. 231-250.

 

[27] Simon, H.A., The New Science of Management Decision, Prentice Hall (1977).

 

[28] Skyttner, L., General Systems Theory, Trans-Atlantic (1996)

 

[29] Systems Engineering Management Guide, Defense Systems Management College, US Government Printing Office (1990).

 

[30] Taylor, J.C., and D.F. Felten, Performance by Design: Sociotechnical Systems in North America, Prentice Hall (1993).

 

[31] Weinberg, G.M., An Introduction to General Systems Thinking, Dorset House (1975).

 

[32] Wymore, A.W., Model-based Systems Engineering, CRC Press (1993).

 

[33] "Signature Areas", Schools of Engineering, Purdue University, accessed March 5, 2004.

 

[34] "Boeing: Vision 2016", Boeing, accessed, March 4, 2004.

 

[35]   "Systems Integration," Lockheed Martin Corporation, cited, March 4, 2004.

 

[36] "Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems," Northrop Grumman Corporation.

 

[37] Raytheon: About Us," Raytheon Company, accessed March 4, 2004.

 

[38] "BAE SYSTEMS North America: About BAE SYSTEMS: Vision and Values," BAE SYSTEMS North America, cited March 4, 2004.

 

[39]  Ullman, D. G., "The Human Element in Design: How Humans Design Mechanical Objects", The Mechanical Design Process, McGraw-Hill, 1992, pp. 36-52.

 

[40] 21st Century Jet: To Design a Plane, Sabbagh, K., producer / director, video series TCJE-1, PBS Video, 1996.

 

[41] Peckenpaugh, J., "Coast Guard Awards Multibillion-Dollar Ship, Aircraft Deal", Government Executive Magazine , accessed March 4, 2004.

 

[42]  Keating, C., Rogers, R. Unal, R., Dryer, D., Sousa-Poza, A., Safford, R., Peterson, W. and Rabadi, G., "System of Systems Engineering," Engineering Management Journal, Vol. 15, No. 3, Sep. 2003, pp. 36-45.

 

[43] "About the FCS Program," The United States Coast Guard, cited March 4, 2004.

 

[44] "Integrated Deepwater System: Our Solution," accessed March 4, 2004.

 

[45] "SoS and FoS FAQ", Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, accessed March 4, 2004.

 

[46] DoD Directive 4630.5, "Interoperability and Supportability of Information Technology (IT) and National Security Systems (NSS)", certified current November 21, 2003, accessed March 4, 2004.

 

[47] Dantzig, Linear Programming and Extensions, Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, 1963, pp.568-574

 

[48] Aslaksen, E., and R. Belcher, Systems Engineering, Prentice-Hall (1992).

 

[49] Beer, S., The Heart of Enterprise, Wiley (1979).