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Engineering Systems Integration
Synthesis
Holism considers the elements of a system as connected causally (ubiquitous,
universal dependencies formulated both temporally and spatially). The
mechanism that forms “. . . a whole from open, interacting parts such that the
whole may exhibit desired, or requisite, emergent properties, capabilities
and behaviors” is synthesis (Hitchins 2007). However, integration is more
than synthesis. Synthesis is that intermediate step which encompasses emergence. However, emergence by itself does not result in a system, but rather a
ProtaSystem. Synthesis is founded on the notion of action at a distance—the
impact of forces acting on things possibly displaced in time and place from
the original action. Synthesis joins and merges the results of interactions
between system elements to sustain the emergent properties that distinguish
ProtaSystems de jure or de facto. Using reductionist methods, systems engineers reduce abstract issues into a formal hierarchy of attributes, traits, and
properties (i.e., physical, functional, and behavioral aspects that can be
mapped into tasks that seemingly represent smaller, more tractable packages
of events or activities). In an iterative fashion a “high-level” task is decomposed in a set of subtasks, then into supporting tasks, and so forth. The tasks
conform to processes that have been predetermined to satisfy skills, budget,
and schedule constraints.
From this descriptive definition, classical systems engineering formulates
and combines objects at various stages in the systems engineering process.
To this end, classical systems engineering integration is thought to imply a
sense of participation or membership, one that supposes participation results
in more than an individual member could derive on its own, that is, a system
is greater than the sum of its parts. Moreover, it is reasoned that a system (or
nonsystem) can be integrated classically with another system (or nonsystem) through their respective, relevant interacting objects. Integration
occurs at both the conceptual and corporeal levels through these objects.
For engineers and management, integration is planned to be two objects
combined and made operational through various interfaces representing
connectivity and flows of energy, matter, material wealth, or information.
The result of integration is more than mere extensions of physical boundaries as is with synthesis. Integration brings full extensions of functional and
behavioral boundaries, in addition to physical boundaries. Synthesis can be
thought of as weak integration, which is to say, consolidation of objects, but
shy of integration. Synthesis is a required step, a step that is often a final
stage for many objects. The example of a simple, swinging pendulum illustrates synthesis. A string tied to a fixed pivot point swings a mass tied at the
other end. Emergence results as a tight string due to the connectivity, high
coupling, and high cohesion. Synthesis has revealed the value of physical
boundaries and the boundary conditions. And integration occurs with an
observer who needs time-keeping and whose problem is one of not knowing
how far a ship has traveled on sea, that is, navigation. Integration is quite
Engineering Systems Integration
Synthesis
Holism considers the elements of a system as connected causally (ubiquitous,
universal dependencies formulated both temporally and spatially). The
mechanism that forms “. . . a whole from open, interacting parts such that the
whole may exhibit desired, or requisite, emergent properties, capabilities
and behaviors” is synthesis (Hitchins 2007). However, integration is more
than synthesis. Synthesis is that intermediate step which encompasses emergence. However, emergence by itself does not result in a system, but rather a
ProtaSystem. Synthesis is founded on the notion of action at a distance—the
impact of forces acting on things possibly displaced in time and place from
the original action. Synthesis joins and merges the results of interactions
between system elements to sustain the emergent properties that distinguish
ProtaSystems de jure or de facto. Using reductionist methods, systems engineers reduce abstract issues into a formal hierarchy of attributes, traits, and
properties (i.e., physical, functional, and behavioral aspects that can be
mapped into tasks that seemingly represent smaller, more tractable packages
of events or activities). In an iterative fashion a “high-level” task is decomposed in a set of subtasks, then into supporting tasks, and so forth. The tasks
conform to processes that have been predetermined to satisfy skills, budget,
and schedule constraints.
From this descriptive definition, classical systems engineering formulates
and combines objects at various stages in the systems engineering process.
To this end, classical systems engineering integration is thought to imply a
sense of participation or membership, one that supposes participation results
in more than an individual member could derive on its own, that is, a system
is greater than the sum of its parts. Moreover, it is reasoned that a system (or
nonsystem) can be integrated classically with another system (or nonsystem) through their respective, relevant interacting objects. Integration
occurs at both the conceptual and corporeal levels through these objects.
For engineers and management, integration is planned to be two objects
combined and made operational through various interfaces representing
connectivity and flows of energy, matter, material wealth, or information.
The result of integration is more than mere extensions of physical boundaries as is with synthesis. Integration brings full extensions of functional and
behavioral boundaries, in addition to physical boundaries. Synthesis can be
thought of as weak integration, which is to say, consolidation of objects, but
shy of integration. Synthesis is a required step, a step that is often a final
stage for many objects. The example of a simple, swinging pendulum illustrates synthesis. A string tied to a fixed pivot point swings a mass tied at the
other end. Emergence results as a tight string due to the connectivity, high
coupling, and high cohesion. Synthesis has revealed the value of physical
boundaries and the boundary conditions. And integration occurs with an
observer who needs time-keeping and whose problem is one of not knowing
how far a ship has traveled on sea, that is, navigation. Integration is quite