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A FRAMEWORK FOR THE SYSTEM DESIGN PROCESS 1
Author(s) -
NUGENT CHRISTOPHER E.,
VOLLMANN THOMAS E.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
decision sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.238
H-Index - 108
eISSN - 1540-5915
pISSN - 0011-7315
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-5915.1972.tb00527.x
Subject(s) - structuring , computer science , process (computing) , set (abstract data type) , systems design , dimension (graph theory) , inclusion (mineral) , process management , system of systems , design process , management science , systems engineering , presentation (obstetrics) , software engineering , work in process , operations management , engineering , programming language , gender studies , mathematics , finance , sociology , pure mathematics , economics , medicine , radiology
ABSTRACT Much discussion and writing about “systems” is often superficial, glib, and of a non‐operational nature. This paper presents a cohesive framework for the process of system design which is felt to be of operational value in the design and management of systems. The framework's central tenet is that all systems are made up of entities and the relationships among the attributes of those entities; and that in designing systems, two processes are used, inclusion and structuring. Inclusion is concerned with what entities to include in a system and structuring with how their attributes are to be related. The system design process is directed or driven by a set (system) of criteria. Systems must be viewed with a time dimension: evolution will and should take place, both in the systems themselves and, more importantly, in the criteria that drive the design and evolution of those systems. In this framework, all problem solvers can usefully regard themselves as system designers. Presentation of the framework is followed by examples, discussion of the criteria set, system design tools, and some implications for teachers and practitioners.