Are ultra-large systems systems of systems?
Ivica Crnković · 2008
Ultra Large Systems are characterized by its complexity, size, diversity of concerns and missions. As complexity of systems grows and the demands on interoperability between them grow, the concerns of how to build, maintain and manage them becomes more important. It is however a question how this complexity can be managed, or how the complexity can be simplified. A second question is related to a question whether an ultra-large system is the same as ultra-large integration of systems, i.e. systems of systems? In this short position paper we exploit a hypothesis that ultra-large systems are either loosely integrated systems and in that case they should be treated as systems of systems, or tight-coupled systems and in that case they should have an layered architecture. As illustration, the paper shows some examples from Scandinavian industry that manage systems which are approaching the size of ultra-large systems.