Architecting, specifying and developing complex, high performance systems presents unprecedented challenges. To manage complexity and deliver capable systems successful teams employ model-driven approaches that capture and organize critical information using the SysML language with Systems Modeling. The best approaches to System Modeling consistently deliver complete and effective technical results while also delivering substantial gains in business results, focusing on key engineering activities: 􀂃 Manage Complexity and Boost Communication 􀂃 Establish a Framework for Requirements and Architecture Engineering 􀂃 Define and Meet System Mission Performance Requirements

1. The 3 Secrets to Boosting Technical and Business Results with
Systems Modeling
Architecting, specifying and developing complex, high performance systems
presents unprecedented challenges. To manage complexity and deliver capable
systems successful teams employ model-driven approaches that capture and
organize critical information using the SysML language with Systems Modeling.
The best approaches to System Modeling consistently deliver complete and
effective technical results while also delivering substantial gains in business
results, focusing on key engineering activities::
Manage Complexity and Boost Communication
Establish a Framework for Requirements and Architecture Engineering
Define and Meet System Mission Performance Requirements
Is there something common across the best approaches? Is there a way to
consistently deliver substantial gains in both technical and business results?
Decades of experience has shown that System Modeling approaches that deliver
the biggest gains in overall results share the pursuit of these three virtues:
Consistency through Canonical Information
Simplicity through Multi-Aspect Separation
Efficiency through Minimalist Modeling
Consistency through Canonical Information : Also
know as "One Fact in One Place", this virtue eschews
the cloning or copying of Systems Modeling information
and instead promotes the singular capture of
information in it's most natural form. Once abstracted
in the form that best supports error-free capture and
maintenance, appropriate transformation and transport
technologies are used to make the information available
wherever it is needed and in the form it is needed.
While this was always a "good idea" when convenient,
modern modeling technologies and frameworks have
erased the old practicality barriers and elevated this to
a cardinal rule.
Simplicity through Multi-Aspect Separation : All systems engineering
approaches apply some form of separation and organization of abstractions to

2. address complexity, mostly via a single axis of separation through simple
decomposition. While a hierarchy of nested elements is certainly useful, when
used as the only aspect of separation the hierarchy can re-introduce complexity
and in fact obscure the actual subject-matter of the system itself. By applying
multiple aspects of separation, the problem space can be cut in a number of
ways. Each of these viewpoints can be tailored to maximize visibility of key
aspects of the system. Two common aspects are the Logical Component
Architecture with a feature/capability focus, and a separate Physical Subsystem
Architecture, each is fundamentally more simple because of the other. Many
aspects can be applied to take best advantage of the nature of a specific
problem space. Largely a combination of disciplined architectural and
perspective techniques, this virtue brings a quantum boost in simplicity delivering
the largest business gains.
Efficiency through Minimalist Modeling : Embracing the adage that "less is
more", this brutally pragmatic discipline builds a straightforward inventory of all
Systems Modeling stakeholders and catalogs all work products they consume.
Then a modeling plan is built to construct only the model abstractions and
elements needed to deliver these work products. Not only does this provide an
excellent bill of materials for what the completed systems model needs to
contain, but this also brings modeling efforts into sharp focus and avoid
unfettered wanderings and stream-of-consciousness modeling that often
characterize poor project performance.
Specific modeling techniques to leverage these virtues are tool independent
and can be quickly adopted by your Systems Modeling team through training
and mentoring. These virtues and other essential modeling skills are the
focus of the Pathfinder Solutions Fundamentals of System Modeling 3-
day course. After the class build mastery of these essential techniques and
tackle your modeling challenges head-on under the expert guidance of our
deeply experienced mentoring/consulting team.
Give your team the competitive edge - contact us:
Pathfinder Solutions ● Wrentham, Massachusetts 02093 USA
888-662-PATH ● info@PathfinderSystemsModeling.com ● www.PathfinderSystemsModeling.com