Systems Architecting and Software Architecting - On Separate or Convergent Paths?

Systems Engineering is an overall method and discipline for building large-scale systems. It has been described as consisting of some twenty-five subordinate processes or an equivalent number of elements. Whatever the overall description, it is agreed that software engineering is a critical activity within the overall field of systems engineering. The success of our efforts at building large systems often depends upon how well we execute the software tasks within a systems engineering framework. The software development issue is high on our list of areas that require continuous improvement if we are to be successful at systems engineering. Both systems and software engineering have methods for architecting. In the former case, there are several approaches, all of which are rather definitive, and have well-known proponents and supporters. These include DoDAF, MoDAF, Enterprise Architecting, and others. In the case of software engineering, the approaches seem to be deep, varied and interesting, and not necessarily agreed upon. In this paper, the author provides an overview of both the fields of systems and software architecting, looking especially for areas of possible commonality. Conclusions are set forth including the possibility of a unified approach. Recommendations follow, suggesting future actions as well as research areas. These results have direct relevance to the structure and content of curricula, current and future, for systems and software engineering and architecting.