Exploring and assessing complex systems' behavior through model-driven storytelling

Abstract

Complex systems are difficult to analyze because of unknown interactions and dependencies among system components, and between the system and the environment. These interactions and dependencies tend to produce unpredictable behaviors that can often lead to detrimental outcomes. Traditional systems engineering that relies on reductive approaches are not suitable for the analysis and design of complex systems. This recognition has led to the development of new paradigms, methods, and tools that better enable: exploration of a complex system's behavior and tradespace; detection, diagnosis, and visualization of component/subsystem dependencies and interactions; and identification, alerting, and circumvention of potentially undesirable interactions. This paper presents a system model-driven interactive storytelling approach for analyzing interactions and dependencies within complex systems, and between complex systems and the environment. An exemplar complex system is used to convey key elements of the approach. The methodology is applicable for a variety of complex systems such as global supply chains, power and energy management, transportation networks, aerospace and aviation enterprises, and defense systems.