INTRODUCTION

TO SYSTEMS

Module
CPE207 Software Engineering
Kevin Anthony Jones
1 Jul 07 1 of 7
 Context
This supplemental topic is underlying
fundamental in engineering discipline; all
engineers should know it well
Study approach for this topic
Self study
Read material
Conduct Question and Answer (Q&A) at end
of material

1 Jul 07 2 of 7 CPE207
 Overview
Comprehensive and communicating assemblage of
entities organized in specialized manner for the purpose
of undertaking one complex task or role
Characteristics include:
large, multi-compositional
complex, difficult to understand
living or non-living
animate or inanimate
“Sizing” depending very much on perspective
Two or more systems may “join” to undertake task or role none
are capable of undertaking alone
Part of a system may “break-off” to undertake subordinate task
or role, while parent system otherwise occupied

1 Jul 07 3 of 7 CPE207
 System Composition
System
* 1 ..*
comprises byAspect Component Classifier
hasA hasA
0 …*

Subsystem

Subsystems may:
inherit characteristics from parent
op independent of parent, when parent not operating
Component is building block of system; may be common for
system and its subsystems; distinguishing factor is manner
of organization (specialized for purpose)
Classifier is any atomic part of Component

1 Jul 07 4 of 7 CPE207
 System Context
communicatesWith
*
Environment

supports *
communicatesWith
0 ..* *
System

hasA *
1 ..*
User

System always exists and ops within environment or domain

Users of system may be external or internal to it
In & outputs may involve environment or remain internal to system,
depending on: task or role & system user(s)

1 Jul 07 5 of 7 CPE207
 Super Systems
From science perspective, three types
of super systems:
Super_system
Natural – biology, chemistry, physics
1
Social – sociology, psychology
{Consolidates
Artificial – anything built by man on some
Computer science (including software) characteristic(s)}
belongs to Artificial supersystem *

Basic method of science is modeling – System

hence adaptation of models for
software planning

1 Jul 07 6 of 7 CPE207
 Q & A
Are these … systems?
1. Human body → Y, complex, large, reproduce
2. Heart → N, cannot fulfill purpose
3. Typical family → Y/N, is home, kids nec for
(parents + kids) task, is it autonomous
4. Bullet → N, too small
5. Gun → N, cannot fulfill purpose
6. Gun-turret w/pwr → Y, weapon system (aimer may
ammo, aimer be human or machine)
7. Person → No, what is task or role
8. Three People → No, not comm assemblage
9. People in hierarchy → Y, specialized org, with
+ doctrine + procs purpose
+ mandate

1 Jul 07 7 of 7 CPE207