Complexity Reduction, a Pragmatic, Semantic Approach

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/5/6/a/5/event_24382181.jpegAn increasing need for shared communication in disparate domains as well as the production of increasingly dynamic, large-scale systems has always been at the heart of the practice of systems engineering.

As a branch of general systems theory, systems engineering was developed to address practical considerations posed by diverse organizations, environments and cultures within which systems are designed, developed and operated. System design and evaluation standards, prototypes, languages and semantics are discussed in the context of pragmatic system complexity reduction.

Types and categories of complexity are used in this discussion to focus on complexity and the reduction of complexity. Formal and theoretical foundations of systems science and systems engineering provide the basis upon which many effective systems engineering tools were built. Some of the classical tools of systems science and systems engineering that manage complexity are described. Based on these classical tool components and principles, abstract relation types (ART) were developed to enhance the understanding and application of these tools.

A pragmatic approach is presented that is designed to reduce complexity, as well as compare relative complexity reduction between and among methods. The direct value of systems engineering techniques as they are applied in any context, is rooted in the ability of systems engineering techniques and practitioners to reduce the cognitive complexity associated with the systems' problem of interest.

Joseph J. Simpson is a Principal with System Concepts, LLC. His experience and interests are focused in the area of complex systems, system science, systems thinking and systems management. Joseph has professional experience in domain areas including environmental restoration, information systems, aerospace and defense. He was educated at the University of Washington, where he received the B.S. (1988), and the M.S. (1990) in Civil Engineering. He also attended the Missouri University of Science and Technology where he received the M.S. (2004) in Systems Engineering. Joseph is a current Member of INCOSE, Member of ACM, and a Sr. Member of IEEE. Joseph’s current activities are associated with complex systems modeling, evolutionary programming and the development of a systems engineering language.

http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/0/0/9/event_24848201.jpeg (http://www.wrightrobbins.com)

A word of special thanks to Wright Robbins, Inc.; our Venue sponsor and host for this year's series of events.

Thank you Joseph for putting your talk together for our group. We look forward to your presentation and discussion!

~ Jillian