Waguespack Thriving Systems Theory and Metaphor-Driven Modeling

1. Auflage 2010
ISBN: 978-1-84996-302-2
Verlag: Springer
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: 1 - PDF Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 167 Seiten

How is it that one system is more effective, appealing, satisfying and/or more beautiful than another to its stakeholder community? This question drove Christopher Alexander's fifty-year quest to explain great physical architecture and gave birth to pattern-languages for building that underpin much of modern systems engineering. How is it that so many individual stakeholders consistently recognize the same quality, the same beauty in a system? This question led George Lakoff to research the role of conceptual metaphor in human understanding. What is essential to stakeholders' satisfaction with systems? Fred Brooks, in his publications, addressed this question. This monograph fuses these diverse streams of thought in proposing Thriving Systems Theory by translating Alexander's properties of physical design quality into the abstract domain of information systems and modeling. Metaphor-Driven Modeling incorporates the theory while examining its impact throughout the system life cycle: modeling, design and deployment. The result is holistic and innovative, a perspective on system quality invaluable to students, practitioners and researchers of software and systems engineering.

Dr. Waguespack is a graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (formerly USL) with degrees in Computer Systems and Software, MIS and Computer Architecture. After five years in the USAF, headquarters personnel, directorate of the computer systems, modeling branch, he taught in the Computer Science department at LSU. Since 1984 he has been teaching in the Computer Information Systems department at Bentley University - systems EAD (engineering/analysis/design), object-oriented systems EAD, software project management and database.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Waguespack, Leslie J.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1;Acknowledgments;6
2;Contents;8
3;Chapter 1: Introduction;14
3.1;1.1 The Quest for Great Design: Great Designers;15
3.2;1.2 Building Buildings and Systems;15
3.3;1.3 Humans Know and How They Know It;16
3.4;1.4 A Fusion of Perception, Conception, and Construction;16
3.5;1.5 A Note of Disclosure to the Reader;19
3.6;Reference;19
4;Part I: Thriving Systems Theory;20
4.1;Chapter 2: Christopher Alexander’s Nature of Order;21
4.1.1;2.1 Order, Complexity, and Human Perception;22
4.1.2;2.2 Wholeness and Centers;23
4.1.3;2.3 Choices as Centers;24
4.1.4;2.4 Wholeness and Center Properties;24
4.1.5;References;26
4.2;Chapter 3: Wholeness and Center Properties Mapped to Modeling;27
4.2.1;3.1 Levels of Scale to Stepwise Refinement;27
4.2.2;3.2 Strong Centers to Cohesion;28
4.2.3;3.3 Boundaries to Encapsulation;28
4.2.4;3.4 Alternating Repetition to Extensibility;29
4.2.5;3.5 Positive Space to Modularization;29
4.2.6;3.6 Good Shape to Correctness;29
4.2.7;3.7 Local Symmetries to Transparency;30
4.2.8;3.8 Deep Interlock and Ambiguity to Composition of Function;31
4.2.9;3.9 Contrast to Identity;31
4.2.10;3.10 Gradients to Scale;31
4.2.11;3.11 Roughness to User Friendliness;32
4.2.12;3.12 Echoes to Patterns;32
4.2.13;3.13 The Void to Programmability;33
4.2.14;3.14 Simplicity and Inner Calm to Reliability;33
4.2.15;3.15 Not Separateness to Elegance;34
4.2.16;3.16 Examining the Mapping from Center Properties to Choice Properties;34
4.2.17;References;38
4.3;Chapter 4: Achieving Versus Observing Strength in Choice Properties;39
4.3.1;4.1 Stepwise Refinement (To Elaborate);39
4.3.2;4.2 Cohesion (To Factor);41
4.3.3;4.3 Encapsulation (To Encapsulate);41
4.3.4;4.4 Extensibility (To Render Extendable);42
4.3.5;4.5 Modularization (To Modularize);42
4.3.6;4.6 Correctness (To Align);43
4.3.7;4.7 Transparency (To Expose);44
4.3.8;4.8 Composition of Function (To Assemble);44
4.3.9;4.9 Identity (To Identify);44
4.3.10;4.10 Scale (To Focus);45
4.3.11;4.11 User Friendliness (To Accommodate);46
4.3.12;4.12 Patterns (To Pattern);46
4.3.13;4.13 Programmability (To Generalize);47
4.3.14;4.14 Reliability (To Normalize);47
4.3.15;4.15 Elegance (To Coordinate);48
4.3.16;4.16 Modeling Actions: Syntax and Semantics;48
4.4;Chapter 5: Building Life into Information Systems;50
4.4.1;5.1 A Life-Infusing Process for Building Information Systems;50
4.4.2;5.2 Applying Alexander’s Generative Building Process;51
4.4.3;5.3 Complexity and the Improbability of Working Systems;51
4.4.4;5.4 Generated Structures: Top-Down Versus Bottom-Up;52
4.4.5;5.5 Accident of Implementation: Threat to System Life;53
4.4.6;5.6 Peripheral Vision in the “Mind’s Eye”;54
4.4.7;References;55
4.5;Chapter 6: A Vision of Thriving Systems;57
4.5.1;6.1 The “Field-Effect” of Choice Properties;57
4.5.2;6.2 Choice Property Coherence;58
4.5.3;6.3 Choice Property Clustering;59
4.5.4;6.4 Choice Property Cluster Contribution to Wholeness;61
4.5.5;6.5 Exploring the “Field-Effect” of the Clusters;66
4.5.5.1;6.5.1 Divisibility: The Field-Effect of Cluster “A”;66
4.5.5.2;6.5.2 Factorability: The Field-Effect of Cluster “B”;67
4.5.5.3;6.5.3 Constructibility: The “Field-Effect” of Cluster “C”;69
4.5.5.4;6.5.4 Confidence: The “Field-Effect” of Cluster “D”;70
4.5.5.5;6.5.5 Predictability: The “Field-Effect” of Cluster “E”;71
4.5.5.6;6.5.6 Usability: The “Field-Effect” of Cluster “F”;73
4.5.5.7;6.5.7 Intuitiveness: The “Field-Effect” of Cluster “G”;74
4.5.5.8;6.5.8 Scalability: The “Field-Effect” of Cluster “H”;76
4.5.5.9;6.5.9 Fidelity: The “Field-Effect” of Cluster “I”;77
4.5.5.10;6.5.10 Effectiveness: The “Field-Effect” of Cluster “J”;78
4.5.5.11;6.5.11 Robustness: The “Field-Effect” of Cluster “K”;80
4.5.5.12;6.5.12 Sustainability: The “Field-Effect” of Cluster “L”;81
4.5.5.13;6.5.13 Vitality: The “Field-Effect” of Cluster “M”;83
4.5.5.14;6.5.14 Thriving: The “Field-Effect” of Cluster “N”;84
4.5.6;6.6 Directing the “Field-Effect” of Property Clusters;86
4.5.7;6.7 The Consequence of Thriving Systems Theory;88
4.5.8;6.8 Historical Reverberations;89
4.5.9;References;90
5;Part II: Thriving Systems Theory in Systems Development;91
5.1;Chapter 7: Metaphorology;92
5.1.1;7.1 The Basics of Conceptual Metaphor;92
5.1.2;7.2 The Metaphor in Thought: Lakoff’s Embodied Mind;94
5.1.3;7.3 Lakoff’s Embodied Mind Meets Alexander’s Nature of Order;96
5.1.4;7.4 Metaphors and Patterns;97
5.1.5;References;97
5.2;Chapter 8: Metaphor-Driven Modeling;99
5.2.1;8.1 The Nature of Systems;99
5.2.2;8.2 The Utility of Modeling;100
5.2.3;8.3 Modeling: Crafting Conceptual Metaphors;101
5.2.4;8.4 Modeling Essence: Recognizing Accident;103
5.2.5;8.5 Quality Through Conceptual Metaphors;105
5.2.6;References;106
5.3;Chapter 9: Protecting Life in System Life Cycles;107
5.3.1;9.1 Common Models of System Concerns;108
5.3.2;9.2 Model Conjugation and Transparency;108
5.3.3;9.3 The Paradox of Modeling Essence in the Now;111
5.3.4;Reference;111
5.4;Chapter 10: Metaphor-Driven Systems Engineering;112
5.4.1;10.1 Software Engineering;112
5.4.2;10.2 Systems Engineering;113
5.4.3;10.3 Ordering the Now/Accommodating the Future: Architecture;113
5.4.4;10.4 Architecture in Thriving Systems Theory;114
5.4.5;10.5 Essence Versus Accident: Bifurcation or Continuum?;116
5.4.6;10.6 Information Systems Ecology: Managing Life;118
5.4.7;10.7 Checklist for Modeling Thriving Systems;119
5.4.8;References;120
5.5;Chapter 11: Thriving Systems and Beauty;122
5.5.1;11.1 “Objective” System Quality Assessment;122
5.5.2;11.2 “Subjective” System Quality Assessment;123
5.5.3;11.3 The Experience of Quality in Observation;124
5.5.4;11.4 Is It Beauty or Is It Thriving?;127
5.5.5;References;128
5.6;Chapter 12: Promoting Life Using the Object-Oriented Paradigm;129
5.6.1;12.1 An Ontology of the Object-Oriented Paradigm;129
5.6.2;12.2 Modeling Living Structure in the Object-Oriented Paradigm;132
5.6.2.1;12.2.1 Stepwise Refinement;133
5.6.2.2;12.2.2 Cohesion;134
5.6.2.3;12.2.3 Encapsulation;135
5.6.2.4;12.2.4 Extensibility;135
5.6.2.5;12.2.5 Modularization;136
5.6.2.6;12.2.6 Correctness;136
5.6.2.7;12.2.7 Transparency;137
5.6.2.8;12.2.8 Composition of Function;138
5.6.2.9;12.2.9 Identity;139
5.6.2.10;12.2.10 Scale;139
5.6.2.11;12.2.11 User Friendliness;140
5.6.2.12;12.2.12 Patterns;141
5.6.2.13;12.2.13 Programmability;141
5.6.2.14;12.2.14 Reliability;142
5.6.2.15;12.2.15 Elegance;143
5.6.3;12.3 Programming Languages Versus Ontology;143
5.6.4;References;144
5.7;Chapter 13: Promoting Life Using the Relational Paradigm;145
5.7.1;13.1 An Ontology of the Relational Paradigm;145
5.7.2;13.2 Modeling Living Structure in the Relational Paradigm;149
5.7.2.1;13.2.1 Stepwise Refinement;150
5.7.2.2;13.2.2 Cohesion;150
5.7.2.3;13.2.3 Encapsulation;151
5.7.2.4;13.2.4 Extensibility;151
5.7.2.5;13.2.5 Modularization;151
5.7.2.6;13.2.6 Correctness;152
5.7.2.7;13.2.7 Transparency;152
5.7.2.8;13.2.8 Composition of Function;153
5.7.2.9;13.2.9 Identity;153
5.7.2.10;13.2.10 Scale;154
5.7.2.11;13.2.11 User Friendliness;154
5.7.2.12;13.2.12 Patterns;155
5.7.2.13;13.2.13 Programmability;155
5.7.2.14;13.2.14 Reliability;156
5.7.2.15;13.2.15 Elegance;156
5.7.3;13.3 Programming Languages Versus Ontology;156
5.7.4;References;157
5.8;Chapter 14: Thriving Systems Through Metaphor-Driven Modeling;158
5.8.1;14.1 No Perfect Models: Only Useful Ones;158
5.8.2;14.2 Processes That Generate Useful Models;159
5.8.3;14.3 Useful Models as Enculturated Organisms;160
5.8.4;14.4 Modeling the Business Organism;161
5.8.5;14.5 Modeling the Business Process Organism;162
5.8.6;14.6 Modeling the Software Organism;163
5.8.7;14.7 Disambiguating Essence and Accident;164
5.8.8;14.8 Models Unfolding as Metaphors;165
5.8.9;14.9 The Pace of Life;165
5.8.10;14.10 Engineering Thriving Systems;166
5.8.11;References;166
6;Epilogue;167
7;Index;168