A Governance Perspective for System-of-Systems

Polinpapilinho F Katina,Charles B Keating,Tyrone S Toland,James A Bobo

doi:10.3390/systems7040054

Polinpapilinho F Katina, Charles B Keating + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/systems7040054

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Abstract

The operating landscape of 21st century systems is characteristically ambiguous, emergent, and uncertain. These characteristics affect the capacity and performance of engineered systems/enterprises. In response, there are increasing calls for multidisciplinary approaches capable of confronting increasingly ambiguous, emergent, and uncertain systems. System of Systems Engineering (SoSE) is an example of such an approach. A key aspect of SoSE is the coordination and the integration of systems to enable ‘system-of-systems’ capabilities greater than the sum of the capabilities of the constituent systems. However, there is a lack of qualitative studies exploring how coordination and integration are achieved. The objective of this research is to revisit SoSE utility as a potential multidisciplinary approach and to suggest ‘governance’ as the basis for enabling ‘system-of-systems’ coordination and integration. In this case, ‘governance’ is concerned with direction, oversight, and accountability of ‘system-of-systems.’ ‘Complex System Governance’ is a new and novel basis for improving ‘system-of-system’ performance through purposeful design, execution, and evolution of essential metasystem functions.’

Highlights

The operating landscape for systems in the 21st century is characteristically ambiguous, emergent, and uncertain
Our knowledge and developments of the System of Systems Engineering (SoSE) field lag in the pace of technological innovation [10,15]
There is an excessive emphasis on technology development, which is outpacing our understanding of the more holistic integration of technologies across the range of socio-technical-political influences. This notion supports recent findings on research activities in the SoSE domain [16]. These findings suggest a lack of consideration of the holistic integration of multiple systems across technology, human, organizational, managerial, and political dimensions as a subject of ‘system-of-systems’ research

Summary

Introduction

The operating landscape for systems in the 21st century is characteristically ambiguous, emergent, and uncertain. It is understandable to expect increasing interest in operating states of society’s infrastructure systems, including calls for the development of methods and tools capable of addressing current and emerging risks, threats, and vulnerabilities [1]. Intentional failure of systems involves elements of acts of terrorism, insider threats, sabotage, and even state-sponsored attacks on critical systems This classification can become an initial step in dealing with threat identification, preventing, protecting, mitigating, and recovering from an attack. The objective of this study is twofold: (i) revisiting utility associated with SoSE as a multidisciplinary approach and (ii) to suggest ‘governance’ as the basis for dealing with ‘system-of-systems’ level issues. In this case, ‘governance’ as a key aspect of ‘system-of-system’. The concept of ‘governance’ is discussed in the context of the emerging field of ‘Complex System Governance.’

The Nature of the Operating Landscape for 21st Century Complex Systems

Methodological Approaches for 21st Century Systems

Methodology

Design Preference

Research Implications and Directions