The informal nature of systems engineering

Abstract

This is a position paper about the relation between Formal Methods and Systems Engineering for complex computerized systems. We will argue that Formal Methods are well suited to prescribed homogeneous domains, and that systems engineering, which integrates more specialized engineering disciplines, is inherently much more informal. We will use the waferstepper as a typical complex computerized system, the case is described at the beginning. Next we explain the discipline of Systems Engineering. In a short intermezzo the overloaded meaning of the word "formal" is discussed. The real positioning is given in two steps: first we elaborate the informal nature of Systems Engineering and then we discuss the relation to Formal Methods. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2005.