Skip to main content

The Informal Nature of Systems Engineering

  • Conference paper
  • 658 Accesses

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNPSE,volume 3582))

Abstract

This is a position paper about the relation between Formal Methods and Systems Engineering for complex computerized systems. We will argue that Formal Methods are well suited to prescribed homogeneous domains, and that systems engineering, which integrates more specialized engineering disciplines, is inherently much more informal.

We will use the waferstepper as a typical complex computerized system, the case is described at the beginning. Next we explain the discipline of Systems Engineering. In a short intermezzo the overloaded meaning of the word “formal” is discussed. The real positioning is given in two steps: first we elaborate the informal nature of Systems Engineering and then we discuss the relation to Formal Methods.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Rechtin, E., Maier, M.W.: The Art of Systems Architecting. CRC Press, Boca Raton (1997)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  2. Martin, J.N.: Systems Engineering Guidebook A Process for Developing Systems and Products. CRC Press, Boca Raton (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Architecture Working Group (AWG): IEEE Recommended Practice for Architectural Description of Software-Intensive Systems The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (2000)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2005 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Muller, G. (2005). The Informal Nature of Systems Engineering. In: Fitzgerald, J., Hayes, I.J., Tarlecki, A. (eds) FM 2005: Formal Methods. FM 2005. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 3582. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/11526841_40

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/11526841_40

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-27882-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-31714-2

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics