Model-Based System Architecture

Chapter 4Definition of System Architecture

Defining “architecture” appears to be rather difficult considering the big number of existing definitions. They do share some commonality but in detail differences become obvious. Interestingly, definitions from different domains are debated controversially. For instance, some enterprise architects refuse to accept the definition of ISO/IEC/IEEE 42010: 2011 [64] with the rationale that an enterprise is no software intensive system. Software intensive systems are in the scope of the standard IEEE Std 1471-2000 [65], a predecessor of ISO/IEC/IEEE 42010:2011, from which the refused definition originates. Nevertheless, the definition for “architecture” in the TOGAF^® version 9.1 [136] is very close to that of ISO/IEC/IEEE 42010:2011. Searching the online browsing platform of ISO [58] for the exact term “architecture” in the area “Terms & Definitions” results in 30+ hits. Considering terms comprising the word “architecture”, such as “logical architecture”, the search results in 120+ hits. The Software Engineering Institute (SEI) of the Carnegie Mellon University maintains another long list of definitions [128]. Though the latter lists definitions of “software architecture,” it may serve as a reference when defining “system architecture.”

This book can hardly provide a global accepted definition for “architecture”. Just adding another definition of architecture will not add benefit to the systems engineering community. As this book promotes ...