Three Approaches to Complex System Decomposition
Year: 2011
Editor: Eppinger, S. D., Maurer, M., Eben, K., Lindemann, U.
Author: Chiriac, N.; Hölttä-Otto, K.; Lysy, D.; Suh, E.S.
Section: DSM Methodology and Complexity Management
Page(s): 3-17
Abstract
Most work on component or function based DSMs thus far starts with an assumption that decomposition is trivial. In this paper we introduce three distinct approaches to decomposing a complex system: assembly decomposition, functional decomposition and service based decomposition. Then we apply these guidelines to a Xerox printing system. We conclude that the results of architectural analysis, for a complex system, are directly affected by the approach taken to decompose the system and the whole to part ratio.
Keywords: System development, decomposition, system architecture, DSM, whole to part ratio