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Foundations in Systems Integration
an integration of concepts and ideas that signify whether the planned integration approach will be effective. Effectiveness is determinable by both the
subjective measures of the team’s work (Giachetti and Rojas 2007) and the
objective measures of the results of the team’s work (Rahming 2009). The
transition from proto effectiveness to systems effectiveness is indicated by
interaction that favors forward-looking coordination to demonstrate functionality as a consequence of integration over iterations and rework to correct problems with objects and their EMMI.
Beginning with needs, problems, and stakeholders, a set of requirements
is laid down, revised, and agreement reached by the key stakeholders.
Based on this initial set of requirements, the project establishes direction,
pacing, skill sets, resource requirements, project metrics, and work packages. A concept of operations is developed, which, when combined with the
creativeness of a designer and architect, results in a set of specifications.
These specifications are coordinated through tasking for the development
team to make a product or service (build and test, and integrate and test).
Objects and interactions with EMMI are defined to conceptualize a solution
that is consistent with the budget, schedule, and available resources, and
that when implemented will be both sufficient and necessary for solving the
defined problem. Objects and their interactions with EMMI are delineated,
organized, and prioritized to lay out the blueprints for the task of building
and testing, and integrating and testing. When finally combined, the
objects and interactions produce the set of EMMI that meets the performance and quality requirements for the resultant product and service. The
transformation of a proto-effective set of objects and their EMMI into a
system of objects and system EMMI marks the essence of an integrated
product or service.
Essence of Integration
Integration can be described as occurring naturally through mechanisms
that work according to various processes to transform subatomic particles
into atoms, atoms into molecules, molecules into structures, structures
(e.g., stars and planets, products and services) into superstructures (e.g., galaxies
and clusters of galaxies).* If we think of integration as transforming parts
into a whole (as is commonly viewed), integration has been variously defined
for enterprise applications (Gold-Bernstein and Marca 1998); local applications,
data, functionality, and processes (Dueker and Vrana 1995; Giachetti 2004);
* Subatomic particles appear to be systems, as do atoms, molecules, living things, stars and
planets, and some products and services.