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Engineering Systems Integration
Constraint
The tapestry of relations between objects and processes and their properties,
traits, and attributes constitute the domains where constraints are present.
“A constraint is a relationship that is maintained or enforced in a given context” (Mayer et al. 1995). For this presentation we use the term relation* which
is meant to be the general term for the degrees of connectivity, coupling, and
cohesion that affiliate or bind objects and processes. A constraint exists
according to the conditions that govern an object or process. These conditions are specified by the amount of EMMI that is available for an object or
process. The mechanism of the object acts as based on the amount and kind
of EMMI. The output of the object is a transformation of that input EMMI
and the effects of that EMMI on the object’s mechanism. Similarly, the conditions under which a process is enabled and driven by input EMMI through
its procedures (a similar notion as mechanism for objects) and then carried
out by objects is likewise constraining for the process as well as for the processes that interact with the constrained process and with the objects that
interact with the constrained process. An object or process under such conditions is said to be constrained. Interactions with a constrained process or
object is constraining on all objects or processes that interact therewith. The
governing condition that initially established a constraint propagates that
constraint through interactions with other processes or objects. There may
be some processes or objects that are unaffected by the constraint as their
mechanisms are either not sensitive to the constraints imposed by the interacting process or objects or in some manner unaffected by the conditions
imposed by the EMMI. This lack of sensitivity could be due in part to a very
low coupling or cohesiveness or a mechanism whose response is longer than
the lifecycle of the constraining interactions (or the lifecycle of the propagation of those constraining interactions).
Frameworks
We interpret observations, postulate principles, and derive laws starting from
theory. Our interpretation of observations is confounded by our perspective,
measurement, and biases. Theories can be thought of as consigned principles,
that is, fundamental statements that are comprehensive in their applicability
and generality through their agreement with observation. Empiricists rely on
observable regularities from which to build a formal model. This aim of this
model is to characterize the causal links that result in the observed regulari* We use the term relationship to signify an association or dependence of people with other
people.
Engineering Systems Integration
Constraint
The tapestry of relations between objects and processes and their properties,
traits, and attributes constitute the domains where constraints are present.
“A constraint is a relationship that is maintained or enforced in a given context” (Mayer et al. 1995). For this presentation we use the term relation* which
is meant to be the general term for the degrees of connectivity, coupling, and
cohesion that affiliate or bind objects and processes. A constraint exists
according to the conditions that govern an object or process. These conditions are specified by the amount of EMMI that is available for an object or
process. The mechanism of the object acts as based on the amount and kind
of EMMI. The output of the object is a transformation of that input EMMI
and the effects of that EMMI on the object’s mechanism. Similarly, the conditions under which a process is enabled and driven by input EMMI through
its procedures (a similar notion as mechanism for objects) and then carried
out by objects is likewise constraining for the process as well as for the processes that interact with the constrained process and with the objects that
interact with the constrained process. An object or process under such conditions is said to be constrained. Interactions with a constrained process or
object is constraining on all objects or processes that interact therewith. The
governing condition that initially established a constraint propagates that
constraint through interactions with other processes or objects. There may
be some processes or objects that are unaffected by the constraint as their
mechanisms are either not sensitive to the constraints imposed by the interacting process or objects or in some manner unaffected by the conditions
imposed by the EMMI. This lack of sensitivity could be due in part to a very
low coupling or cohesiveness or a mechanism whose response is longer than
the lifecycle of the constraining interactions (or the lifecycle of the propagation of those constraining interactions).
Frameworks
We interpret observations, postulate principles, and derive laws starting from
theory. Our interpretation of observations is confounded by our perspective,
measurement, and biases. Theories can be thought of as consigned principles,
that is, fundamental statements that are comprehensive in their applicability
and generality through their agreement with observation. Empiricists rely on
observable regularities from which to build a formal model. This aim of this
model is to characterize the causal links that result in the observed regulari* We use the term relationship to signify an association or dependence of people with other
people.