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Application of complex systems science to systems engineering
Author(s) -
Beckerman Linda P.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
systems engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.474
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1520-6858
pISSN - 1098-1241
DOI - 10.1002/1520-6858(2000)3:2<96::aid-sys4>3.0.co;2-7
Subject(s) - reductionism , complex system , systems science , system of systems , system of systems engineering , computer science , science and engineering , management science , systems engineering , systems theory , engineering , systems design , engineering ethics , artificial intelligence , epistemology , philosophy
This article discusses how we can modify our approaches for performing systems engineering by incorporating the ideas inherent in the complex system science approach. The reductionist approach is described in terms of its effect on the classical systems engineering efforts. The holistic approach is then described with emphasis on the concepts of emergence and nonlinear, dynamic behavior. Having laid this groundwork, the paper then will discuss a melding of the reductionist and holistic approaches. This paper will suggest how we might modify the systems engineering processes used today to gain a whole‐brained approach that bridges the gulf between these two strategies. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Syst Eng 3: 96–102, 2000