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ROLE OF REDUCTIONISM AND EXPANSIONISM IN SYSTEM DESIGN AND EVALUATION
Author(s) -
Clymer John R.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
incose international symposium
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2334-5837
DOI - 10.1002/j.2334-5837.1994.tb01720.x
Subject(s) - expansionism , context (archaeology) , reductionism , component (thermodynamics) , set (abstract data type) , computer science , stylized fact , architecture , systems engineering , epistemology , economics , engineering , geology , law , macroeconomics , history , philosophy , political science , paleontology , physics , archaeology , politics , thermodynamics , programming language
Reductionism is based on the assumption that any complex system can be decomposed into a set of indivisible components that operate independently of each other. Interactions among components are based on cause and effect relationships described by a mechanistic model Expansionism is based on the assumption that a component is understood as it relates to a larger whole. It is possible, that in a mechanistic sense, a component may seem to operate properly when evaluated based on cause and effect; however, from an expansionist point of view the component may not adequately contribute to the goals and objectives of the system as a whole. In order to detect such problems early and minimize development time and cost, the expansionist view is applied during conceptual design To facilitate expansionism during conceptual design, an explicit operational model is applied that can assist understanding global context sensitive interactions that can cause problems later. To evaluate the architecture, the operational model is expanded, during system design, to include structural details.