Resolved: Software Should Lead in Systems Engineering
James R. Armstrong, Arthur B. Pyster · INCOSE International Symposium · 1997
ABSTRACT The systems engineering community has long debated the extent to which software disciplines, processes, and practitioners should influence systems engineering. In August 1996, the authors held a lively debate at a meeting of the Washington Metropolitan Area Chapter of INCOSE on the proper role of software engineering within systems engineering. The particular issue debated was the proposal that software ideas, process, and people should be in the lead when building complex systems. Pyster favored that view while Armstrong opposed it. While some of our comments were tongue in cheek for the fun of the audience, the topic itself is quite serious. This paper elaborates on the points made at that debate.