Abstract
In Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) there is yet no converged terminology. The term ‘system model’ is used in different contexts in literature. In this study we elaborated the definitions and usages of the term ‘system model’, to find a common definition. We analyzed 104 publications in depth for their usage and definition as well as their meta-data e.g., the publication year and publication background to find some common patterns. While the term is gaining more interest in recent years, it is used in a broad range of contexts for both analytical and synthetic use cases. Based on this, three categories of system models have been defined and integrated into a more precise definition.
Highlights
While the research and industrial interest in Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) is very high—as this special issue of Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI) shows—there is yet no common terminology for this topic
The results presented in the previous section shall be used to answer the research questions and validate the working hypotheses
Most publications referred to system models as graphical models like SysML and Object-Process Methodology (OPM) models (Figure 8), which are often associated with MBSE
Summary
In 2015, Hart [3] mentioned, that a system model is ‘[...] a structured representation that focuses on the overall system requirements, behavior, structure, properties and interconnections’. This definition is as vague as the MBSE definition mentioned by Huldt and Stenius [1]. Despite the vagueness of the existing definitions, the concept of systems modeling increases in popularity across various industries. This means multiple definitions and concepts, which are difficult to compare. Inconsistencies and contradictions help to identify gaps and areas of improvement to derive future solutions that are needed to advance systems development through the use of system models
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