Architectures for Evolving System of Systems in Complex Environments

Abstract

The paper describes design methods for designing a system of systems. Here a system must be designed to both carry out its function and also to fit in with other systems. Design goes beyond optimizing one system but must provide ways to sustain relationships between systems in open complex environments. The nature of a system of systems is complex as individual systems must respond to any changes in related systems. They are characterized by continuous emergence and the need to maintain system integration as systems change and support creativity and innovation. The paper describes architectural framework made up of two parts that provides a structure to model systems and their emergence. The first is an open system structure that models organizational structures that can evolve. This goes beyond the traditional hierarchical systems used in many models. Instead it sees organizational structures as collaborating open systems that are gradually leading to a social rather than hierarchical structure. The second is the collaborative architecture based on social networking superimposed on the structure to model collaboration between the systems. It thus combines social networking and an open model of business systems to provide a unified framework to model a system of systems.