Example of a IDEF0 function model.

Functional Flow Block Diagram Format.^[1]

Decomposition structure.

Static, dynamic, and requirements models for systems partition.

Business Process Modeling Notation Example.

Systems modeling or system modeling is the interdisciplinary study of the use of models to conceptualize and construct systems in business and IT development.^[2]

A common type of systems modeling is function modeling, with specific techniques such as the Functional Flow Block Diagram and IDEF0. These models can be extended using functional decomposition, and can be linked to requirements models for further systems partition.

The Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN), a graphical representation for specifying business processes in a workflow, can also be considered to be a systems modeling language.

Overview[link]

In business and IT development the term "systems modeling" has multiple meaning. It can relate to:

• the use of model to conceptualize and construct systems
• the interdisciplinary study of the use of these models
• the systems modeling, analysis, and design efforts
• the systems modeling and simulation, such as system dynamics
• any specific systems modeling language

As a field of study systems modeling has emerged with the development of system theory and systems sciences.

As a type of modeling systems modeling is based on systems thinking and the systems approach. In business and IT systems modeling contrasts other approaches such as:

• agent based modeling
• data modeling and
• mathematical modeling

In "Methodology for Creating Business Knowledge" (1997) Arbnor and Bjerke the systems approach (systems modeling) was considered to be one of the three basic methodological approaches for gaining business knowledge, beside the analytical approach and the actor's approach (agent based modeling).^[3]

History[link]

The function model originates in the 1950s, after in the first half of the 20th century other types of management diagrams had already been developed. The first known Gantt Chart was developed in 1896 by Karol Adamiecki, who called it a harmonogram. Because Adamiecki did not publish his chart until 1931 - and in any case his works were published in either Polish or Russian, languages not popular in the West - the chart now bears the name of Henry Gantt (1861–1919), who designed his chart around the years 1910-1915 and popularized it in the West.^[4] One of the first well defined function models, was the Functional Flow Block Diagram (FFBD) developed by the defense-related TRW Incorporated in the 1950s.^[5] In the 1960s it was exploited by the NASA to visualize the time sequence of events in a space systems and flight missions.^[6] It is further widely used in classical systems engineering to show the order of execution of system functions.^[7]

On of the earliest pioneering works in information systems modeling^[8] has been done by Young and Kent (1958), who argued:

Since we may be called upon to evaluate different computers or to find alternative ways of organizing current systems it is necessary to have some means of precisely stating a data processing problem independentaly of mechanization.^[9]

They aimed for a precise and abstract way of specifying the informational and time characteristics of a data processing problem, and wanted to created a notation that should enable the analyst to organize the problem around any piece of hardware. Their efforts was not so much focussed on independent systems analysis, but on creating abstract specification and invariant basis for designing different alternative implementations using different hardware components.^[8]

A next step in IS modeling was taken by CODASYL, an IT industry consortium formed in 1959, who essentially aimed at the same thing as Young and Kent: the development of "a proper structure for machine independent problem definition language, at the system level of data processing". This led to the development of a specific IS information algebra.^[8]

Types of systems modeling[link]

In business and IT development systems are modeled with different scoops and scales of complexity, such as:

• Functional modeling
• Business process modeling
• Enterprise modeling

Further more like systems thinking, systems modeling in can be divided into:

• Systems analysis
• Hard systems modeling or operational research modeling
• Soft system modeling

And all other specific types of systems modeling, such as form example complex systems modeling, dynamical systems modeling, and critical systems modeling.

Specific types of modeling languages[link]

• Systems Modeling Language

See also[link]

• Behavioral modeling
• Dynamic systems
• SEQUAL framework
• Software and Systems Modeling (SoSyM)
• Systems analysis
• Systems design
• Systems biology modeling

References[link]

Further reading[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Systems modeling

• Doo-Kwon Baik eds. (2005). Systems modeling and simulation: theory and applications : third Asian Simulation Conference, AsiaSim 2004, Jeju Island, Korea, October 4–6, 2004. Springer, 2005. ISBN 3-540-24477-8.
• Derek W. Bunn, Erik R. Larsen (1997). Systems modelling for energy policy. Wiley, 1997. ISBN 0-471-95794-1
• Hartmut Ehrig et al. (eds.) (2005). Formal methods in software and systems modeling. Springer, 2005 ISBN 3-540-24936-2
• D. J. Harris (1985). Mathematics for business, management, and economics: a systems modelling approach. E. Horwood, 1985. ISBN 0-85312-821-9
• Jiming Liu, Xiaolong Jin, Kwok Ching Tsui (2005). Autonomy oriented computing: from problem solving to complex systems modeling. Springer, 2005. ISBN 1-4020-8121-9
• Michael Pidd (2004). Systems Modelling: Theory and Practice. John Wiley & Sons, 2004. ISBN 0-470-86732-9
• Václav Pinkava (1988). Introduction to Logic for Systems Modelling. Taylor & Francis, 1988. ISBN 0-85626-431-8

v t e Systems engineering Fields Aerospace engineering Biological systems engineering Configuration management Earth systems engineering and management Enterprise systems engineering Performance engineering Reliability engineering Safety engineering Processes Requirements analysis Functional specification System integration Verification and validation Design review Integrating functionality Concepts Business process System Systems engineering process System lifecycle Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) Languages Systems Modeling Language IDEF Tools Decision making Functional modelling Optimization Planning Reliable analysis Statistical analysis Systems analysis System dynamics Systems modeling V-Model Work breakdown structure People Wernher von Braun Harold Chestnut Arthur David Hall III Derek Hitchins Robert E. Machol Simon Ramo Joseph Francis Shea John N. Warfield Related fields Control engineering Computer engineering Industrial engineering Operations research Project management Quality management Software engineering Category ·  Commons

Jake Abbott (born 4 February 1988 in Worcester) is an English Rugby Union player who plays as a Flanker for Worcester Warriors in the Aviva Premiership. Worcester Born and Bred, Abbott has been connected with the Warriors since the age of 6 playing for the Minis/Juniors and is a product of the Warriors Academy system^[1]

Career[link]

Jake made his Warriors debut in an EDF Energy Cup match against London Irish.^[2] He scored his first try in the same competition against Harlequins ^[3]

Jake Abbott was included in the England Sevens Squad in December 2009, making his debut in the Dubai stage of the world Sevens Tournament but turned down an opportunity to play for England in the Commonwealth Games, wanting instead to focus on his performances for the Warriors.^[4]

Following the Worcester Warriors relegation to the RFU Championship at the end of the 2009/2010 season, Abbott signed a new 1 year deal committing his future to helping the Warriors regain premiership rugby but his efforts were cut short as he suffered a severe Knee Injury whilst playing against Bristol Rugby in October 2010.^[5] Jake was ruled out of contention for the remainder of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury sidelining him for 6 months, having had a bright and promising start to the campaign.

In January 2011 it was confirmed that Jake had committed a further 2 years of his future to playing for the Worcester Warriors by signing a new deal which would keep him at the club until the end of the 2013 season.^[6]

Abbott has been arrested for the drunken, violent assault of a woman outside a nightclub.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Worcester Warriors profile
• Guinness Premiership profile
• RFU England Sevens Profile

This English rugby union biography is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e