Systems Architecting: Creating & Building Complex Systems [Hardcover]

Eberhardt Rechtin (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0138803455 | ISBN-13: 978-0138803452 | Publication Date: December 1, 1990 | Edition: 1st

This volume combines the principles of systems engineering with those of architecting (the science and art of creating, designing, planning and certifying new structures) for a problem-solving approach to the design of large, complex projects. It offers new conceptual models to engineers involved in the design of spacecraft, launch vehicles, aircraft and communication, computer or defence systems. With insights derived from real-world examples of major systems success and failures, this volume offers engineers the opportunity of saving time and money. Highlights of the book include a detailed examination of the conceptual design phase, a heuristic approach to the teaching methods and a look at the various interrelated subjects of architecting.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Takes a problem-solving approach to systems engineering with many examples from aerospace industry.

From the Back Cover

M->CREATED

Product Details

• Hardcover: 333 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 1st edition (December 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0138803455
• ISBN-13: 978-0138803452
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #831,095 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An anecdotal blueprint for a profession, February 9, 2001

By 

Jireh Mak (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Systems Architecting: Creating & Building Complex Systems (Hardcover)

Rechtin is no stranger to architecting complex systems. Most of his insights are drawn from his 40 years experience as the chief architect for NASA during the moon landings and a long list of defence and civil positions.

The book covers a wide range of topics germane to architects as a field and profession: boundaries and interfaces, information systems, the challenge of ultra-quality, economics and public policy, AI, assessing architectures are some of the sections.

The style of the book is alomost memoir-like. He groups his experiences into three main headings with many sub headings. Each item within the sub headings rate 2-4 pages with some heuristic attached. It's a fascinating read because it's a rare glimpse into the mind of someone whose job it was to "keep the entire system in his head". He basically had to answer and implement a system that solved the question, "How do we get three men to the moon and back before the end of the decade?".

The two most useful aspects are his in depth treatment on the economics and politics of architecting and a multitude(over 100) heuristics. For instance,

"the greatest **leverage** in system architecting is at the interfaces" "complex systems will develop and evolve within and overall architecture much more rapidly if there are stable intermediate forms than if there are not" "profit is a matter of definition and cost is not an absolute" "there is no such thing as immaculate communication"

and my favourite

"the time in days, T, to obtain an approval requiring N signatures is approximately T = 2^(N-2).

The book has been in print for some time and many of the examples regarding designing jet propulsion systems, fail-safe computers for the moon or road networks may not be easily related to accounting, manufacturing or web systems. But as a blueprint for a profession that is growing in importance, it lays an anectdotal foundation that will be hard to match.

8 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Establishes the field of systems architecting, July 10, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Los Angeles, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Systems Architecting: Creating & Building Complex Systems (Hardcover)

Systems architecting is the use of architecting tools and techniques (e.g.,analysis, insights, heuristics metaphors, practice, ethics and modus operandi) to systems (collections of different things which collectively produce results not producible by the components, alone. This is the first and most fundamental of three books on the subject. The second extends architecting to software, progressive modeling, politics, and architects in industry. The third uses the art of systems architecting in structuring organizations.