How to Make Our Ideas Clear

[joseph simpson]

As the work progresses on the development and description of basic system concepts, the attached paper, "How to Make Our Ideas Clear," outlines some key areas that support the generation and engagement of clear, distinct system concepts.

In the January 7th, 2017 System Concepts Technical Report, that will be used to guide discussion in the January 7th Structural Modeling Video Conference, a number of these clarifying approaches will be applied to specific structural modeling concepts.

The use of the three language types: prose, structured graphics and mathematics creates a situation where increased fidelity may be added to system concept description and discussion.

Much of this increased fidelity is based on the isomorphic relationships outlined in the AMEI.  For example, the 'is-connected-to' relationship can now be addressed as one of the 27 different types of connections listed in the AMEI. 

The ability of the AMEI structure to add increased fidelity to system concepts has been applied to the mathematical structural relationships developed by Warfield.  Most, if not all, of the main matrix types are addressed along with a preliminary categorization of the application structural types listed by Warfield.

Using this approach, the reachability matrix model has been further clarified and refined.  This clarification  and refinement generates a companion set of isomorphic detailed definitions for the reachability matrix.  A key research question to be explored is whether or not these clarifications and refinements impact the logical predictive power of the reachability matrix.

Another key area of exploration, detailed in the technical report, is the initial process of starting a structural modeling analysis.  A two step process is listed in the structural modeling literature.  Step one is the scanning method.  Step two is the coupling method.  However, when the GMU ISM software examples from the "Handbook of Interactive Management," are analyzed to produce an executable algorithm, a process different than the scanning appears to be employed.

Have fun and a great Winter Holiday, 

Joe 

 

--

Joe Simpson

“Reasonable people adapt themselves to the world. 

Unreasonable people attempt to adapt the world to themselves. 

All progress, therefore, depends on unreasonable people.”

George Bernard Shaw