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5.6.2 Engineering of Complex Systems: Understanding the Art Side
Author(s) -
Newbern David,
Nolte Jerry
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
incose international symposium
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2334-5837
DOI - 10.1002/j.2334-5837.1998.tb00111.x
Subject(s) - abstraction , computer science , complex system , documentation , great rift , key (lock) , mechanism (biology) , artificial intelligence , epistemology , programming language , computer security , philosophy , physics , astronomy
The engineering of complex systems is both science and art. Although the cause of many difficulties in development of complex systems is the “art” side, this side is frequently ignored since it can't be conveniently described and quantified. We recommend a conscious recognition of the appropriate role of the art, or judgment, side of systems engineering, especially in the key processes of abstraction and decomposition. Detailed documentation of rationale is a powerful mechanism for introducing repeatability into “art” side design and development decisions.