Glossary · System coordination, integration and orchestration
System-of-systems
Also known as: System of systems (SoS), SoS
German: Systemverbund
In systems engineering, a system-of-systems (SoS) is a set of independent systems that interact to provide a capability that none of them provides alone, while each constituent system keeps its own operational and managerial independence.
- System integration
- Standards
In one sentence
A system-of-systems is a set of independent systems that interact to provide a capability none of them offers alone, each staying independent.
Example
A smart factory is a system-of-systems: machines, the MES, the warehouse system, the energy management system and supplier logistics are run by different owners but work together to deliver orders.
How it applies
- Engineering: Constituent systems evolve independently, often with different owners and life cycles. Design for change: stable interfaces, versioning and tolerance for partners that are temporarily unavailable.
- Emergent behavior: The SoS shows behavior that no constituent system shows alone, including unwanted behavior. Analyze interactions, not only the individual systems.
- Governance: Agreements between owners (interfaces, data, responsibilities) matter as much as technology. A Responsibility matrix helps.
- Documentation: No single party documents the whole. Define which information each party provides about its system and interfaces, and who maintains the overview.
System-of-systems vs. integrated system
An Integrated system is designed and managed as one system, even if built from parts of different suppliers. In a system-of-systems, the parts remain independently operated and managed; the whole exists through cooperation.