Glossary · System coordination, integration and orchestration
System context diagram
Also known as: Context diagram
German: Systemkontextdiagramm
In systems engineering, a system context diagram is a diagram that shows the system of interest as a single element together with the external actors and systems it interacts with, and the flows of information, material or energy across its boundary.
- System integration
In one sentence
A system context diagram shows the system as one element with the external actors and systems it interacts with and the flows across its boundary.
Example
The context diagram of a palletizer shows the upstream conveyor, the line controller, the MES, the operator, the maintenance technician, the power supply and the pallet dispenser.
How it applies
- Engineering: The context diagram fixes the system boundary early. Each line across the boundary is an interface that needs a specification. In SysML, context is often modeled with a block definition or internal block diagram.
- Requirements: Actors in the diagram point to stakeholders and use cases; missing actors, such as cleaning or maintenance staff, often mean missing requirements.
- Safety: Defining Machine limits in an ISO 12100 risk assessment addresses similar questions about boundaries and interactions.
- Documentation: A context diagram is a good starting point for the product description in a manual and for identifying the audiences of the documentation: every human actor may need instructions.
Context diagram vs. architecture diagram
The context diagram treats the system as a black box and shows its environment. An architecture diagram, such as the Physical architecture, opens the box and shows internal elements and their connections.