Bounding the Solution Space of Complex Systems in Terms of Non-Numeric and\or Uncontrollable Scenario Variables
This paper describes an approach to blend several qualitative and quantitative methods to establish the boundaries of complex systems in terms of uncontrollable, non-numeric variables. Decision makers increasingly encounter layered, multidimensional, interconnected issues that contain unknown unknow...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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Series: | Systems |
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Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/9/4/89 |
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author | Alejandro Hernandez Anthony Pollman |
author_facet | Alejandro Hernandez Anthony Pollman |
author_sort | Alejandro Hernandez |
collection | DOAJ |
description | This paper describes an approach to blend several qualitative and quantitative methods to establish the boundaries of complex systems in terms of uncontrollable, non-numeric variables. Decision makers increasingly encounter layered, multidimensional, interconnected issues that contain unknown unknowns, vast uncertainties, and ill-defined lines of demarcation between the beginning and the end of the problem. The inexactness of boundaries in a systems problem is a result of not knowing important variables, existence of uncontrollable variables, and near-uncountable significant interactions among the variables. Furthermore, complexities and systems challenges arise from unexpected emergent behavior(s) that are often the primary concerns of systems engineers. The ability to investigate uncontrollable variables and their interactions with the system of interest is a critical step for bounding the system problem and defining the solution space. Thus, this paper focuses on developing a means for systematically examining these variables. By incorporating scenario-based computer simulations, scenario discretization, and customized designs of experiments, the authors offer systems engineers and scientists an approach for defining a viable solution space of a complex problem by developing constraint equations from uncontrollable, non-numeric variables. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:00:25Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-e29213f770734ef095838456aad8d8a2 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2079-8954 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:00:25Z |
publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | Article |
series | Systems |
spelling | doaj.art-e29213f770734ef095838456aad8d8a22023-11-23T10:47:45ZengMDPI AGSystems2079-89542021-12-01948910.3390/systems9040089Bounding the Solution Space of Complex Systems in Terms of Non-Numeric and\or Uncontrollable Scenario VariablesAlejandro Hernandez0Anthony Pollman1Systems Engineering Department, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA 93943, USASystems Engineering Department, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA 93943, USAThis paper describes an approach to blend several qualitative and quantitative methods to establish the boundaries of complex systems in terms of uncontrollable, non-numeric variables. Decision makers increasingly encounter layered, multidimensional, interconnected issues that contain unknown unknowns, vast uncertainties, and ill-defined lines of demarcation between the beginning and the end of the problem. The inexactness of boundaries in a systems problem is a result of not knowing important variables, existence of uncontrollable variables, and near-uncountable significant interactions among the variables. Furthermore, complexities and systems challenges arise from unexpected emergent behavior(s) that are often the primary concerns of systems engineers. The ability to investigate uncontrollable variables and their interactions with the system of interest is a critical step for bounding the system problem and defining the solution space. Thus, this paper focuses on developing a means for systematically examining these variables. By incorporating scenario-based computer simulations, scenario discretization, and customized designs of experiments, the authors offer systems engineers and scientists an approach for defining a viable solution space of a complex problem by developing constraint equations from uncontrollable, non-numeric variables.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/9/4/89scenario methodologiescomputer simulationdesign of experimentsmixed methods |
spellingShingle | Alejandro Hernandez Anthony Pollman Bounding the Solution Space of Complex Systems in Terms of Non-Numeric and\or Uncontrollable Scenario Variables Systems scenario methodologies computer simulation design of experiments mixed methods |
title | Bounding the Solution Space of Complex Systems in Terms of Non-Numeric and\or Uncontrollable Scenario Variables |
title_full | Bounding the Solution Space of Complex Systems in Terms of Non-Numeric and\or Uncontrollable Scenario Variables |
title_fullStr | Bounding the Solution Space of Complex Systems in Terms of Non-Numeric and\or Uncontrollable Scenario Variables |
title_full_unstemmed | Bounding the Solution Space of Complex Systems in Terms of Non-Numeric and\or Uncontrollable Scenario Variables |
title_short | Bounding the Solution Space of Complex Systems in Terms of Non-Numeric and\or Uncontrollable Scenario Variables |
title_sort | bounding the solution space of complex systems in terms of non numeric and or uncontrollable scenario variables |
topic | scenario methodologies computer simulation design of experiments mixed methods |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/9/4/89 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT alejandrohernandez boundingthesolutionspaceofcomplexsystemsintermsofnonnumericandoruncontrollablescenariovariables AT anthonypollman boundingthesolutionspaceofcomplexsystemsintermsofnonnumericandoruncontrollablescenariovariables |