The Art of Systems Architecting, Third Edition (Systems Engineering) (Hardcover)

~ Mark W. Maier (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

…The only way to develop this skill is to serve an apprenticeship with a proven practitioner. However, there are simply not enough gurus to go around, and I would recommend this book both for students of the discipline and as serious reading for experienced designers who wish to recognize and maintain their expertise.
-E. James in Computing Millieux

…The only way to develop this skill is to serve an apprenticeship with a proven practitioner. However, there are simply not enough gurus to go around, and I would recommend this book both for students of the discipline and as serious reading for experienced designers who wish to recognize and maintain their expertise.
-E. James in Computing Millieux --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Description

If engineering is the art and science of technical problem solving, systems architecting happens when you don’t yet know what the problem is. The third edition of a highly respected bestseller, The Art of Systems Architecting provides in-depth coverage of the least understood part of systems design: moving from a vague concept and limited resources to a satisfactory and feasible system concept and an executable program. The book provides a practical, heuristic approach to the "art" of systems architecting. It provides methods for embracing, and then taming, the growing complexity of modern systems.

New in the Third Edition:

• Five major case studies illustrating successful and unsuccessful practices
• Information on architecture frameworks as standards for architecture descriptions
• New methods for integrating business strategy and architecture and the role of architecture as the technical embodiment of strategy
• Integration of process guidance for organizing and managing architecture projects
• Updates to the rapidly changing fields of software and systems-of-systems architecture
• Organization of heuristics around a simple and practical process model

 A Practical Heuristic Approach to the Art of Systems Architecting

Extensively rewritten to reflect the latest developments, the text explains how to create a system from scratch, presenting invention/design rules together with clear explanations of how to use them. The author supplies practical guidelines for avoiding common systematic failures while implementing new mandates. He uses a heuristics-based approach that provides an organized attack on very ill-structured engineering problems. Examining architecture as more than a set of diagrams and documents, but as a set of decisions that either drive a system to success or doom it to failure, the book provide methods for integrating business strategy with technical architectural decision making.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 472 pages
• Publisher: CRC Press; 3 edition (January 6, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1420079131
• ISBN-13: 978-1420079135
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #38,788 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #9 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Engineering > Electrical & Electronics > Digital Design
  #23 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Project Management > PMP Exam
  #35 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Hardware > Design & Architecture

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars You should read it to learn the heuristics, March 30, 1999

By	A. Hofman (Utrecht, The Netherlands) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Art of Systems Architecting (Systems Engineering) (Hardcover)

The authors Rechtin and Maier first address the discussion of Architecting vs Engineering. Interesting. In Part 1 they focus on 4 architecting methodologies: Normative (solution based), Rational (method based), Participative (stakeholder based) and Heuristic (lessons learned). It's good to stress the importance of lessons learned and best practices, although worst practices are very important too. But is a methodology based on Heuristics a methodology? Chapter 2 describes heuristics as tools and this chapter is good to read. Part two of the book, four domains to use Systems Architecting, offers new insights by showing how systems are architected in "builder architected systems" (making products), manufacturing systems, social systems and software systems. Especially the chapter on social systems is good. Remember to ask yourself the 4 who's (who benefits, who pays, who provides and who loses) because these parties influence the acceptance of your system. Part three of the book focusses on models, modelling methodologies and design progression. Chapter 10, written by Brenda Forman, describes the Political proces. In my opinion the best chapter of the book. Every architect, every consultant (whatever kind of consultant) should read this chapter. Terrific heuristics ("Proof is a matter of having the votes", "the best engineering solutions are not necessarily the best political solutions") and good examples on something that a lot of IT professionals don't like: politics. But, as the book suggests: "You may well find the craziness of the political process distasteful - but it will not go away!" You can use the lessons of this chapter every day. Finally, Appendix A lists a lot of heuristics you can use. Recommended reading.

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Defining Architecting, August 24, 2002

By	Tom Gilb (Norway) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Art of Systems Architecting, Second Edition (Hardcover)

Review: This is a great overview of the subject of systems architecture. It is already highly regarded in the systems engineering community. It is rich in useful detail. It gives a comprehensive historical view of the discipline. I found a large number of specific insights about the nature of architecture as opposed to engineering. The collection of over 180 heuristics is an interesting framework for the text. I can highly recommend it as a study to both novices and seasoned professionals. The guest chapters on political process and systems architecting (Brenda Forman), and The Professionalization of Systems Architecting (Elliot Axelbrand) are both valuable additions to the immense vocabulary of the authors.
If I have one quibble it is that the book correctly insists on quantification of performance attributes as the only proper basis for architecture, certification, and engineering. But it so often denies the measurability of so called `soft' values - and remarkably includes things like `safety', and `environmental impact' in that category. I fear that setting too high a standard for quantification leaves us with mere ambiguous words. This of course is a widespread problem. I disagree, and will take up the discussion with the authors and the community - as I already have done. In addition I find a complete lack of examples, or discussion, about how `multiple performance and cost attributes' can be used by the architectural level to understand the architectural problem. There are far too many non-quantified models, and far too little insight as to how a systems architect would deal with the quantified attribute requirements of a system. Maybe in the 3rd Edition?
[e-mail], August 24 2002.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you need to invent systems, read this book., September 5, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Art of Systems Architecting (Systems Engineering) (Hardcover)

This book addresses the rather neglected field of invention, specifically invention of systems. Whereas most books on systems address either formal analysis of an already invented system or the process for keeping track of system descriptive data (classical systems engineeringt), Maier and Rechtin address the really hard issues of how does one invent a system from scratch. This book contains a general discussion of the process of invention of systems. Most importantly, the authors then tie this process description to a set of system invention / design rules that they refer to as heuristics. The heuristics are then discussed in some detail so as to improve the reader's interpretation and judgement in the use of these system invention / design rules. Examples are very useful in any craft. The authors acknowledge this by providing some useful examples of the application of the system invention / design rules to a number of different system problems. This book is a must read for anyone interested in or affected by artificial systems, whether they are technical, enviornmental, social, or other types of systems. Their clear presentation of a set of useful system invention / design rules together with a clear explaination of how to make practical use of these rules can assist any system architect in improving the level of maturity of his/her practice.