Complex system governance: Theory to practice challenges for system of systems engineering

Abstract

This paper explores challenges in moving Complex System Governance (CSG) from the theoretical/conceptual formulation to practice. CSG is an emerging field with potential to complement and extend System of Systems Engineering (SoSE). We begin with a brief introduction to CSG and the nature of the problem domain of interest for this field. Next, the nature of the CSG field is developed in light of SoSE. Focus is then turned to the spectrum of challenges faced for deployment of CSG. Finally, a path forward to addressing these challenges is explored. The paper concludes with several contributions that CSG can offer to SoSE in the struggle to deal with increasingly complex systems and their associated problems.