Policy and Complex Systems
useful in designing and managing complex systems or policies .
The WAVE Planning Model 5 ( refer Figure 4 ) has been used as a mechanism for reconfiguring the Trapeze model as an intuitive series of major implementation steps .
WAVE Planning has enabled modeling and sensemaking using the agent-based life cycle modeling 6 , and alternative strategies to be analyzed for value sustainment in systems-of-systems . 7
The U . S . OSD approach to systems-of-systems purposefully does not deal with the decision-making process necessary to establish and support a systems-of-systems . In complex policies , the policymaking process is itself complex and is integral to the policy ’ s design , implementation , and ongoing management .
The U . S . OSD Wave Plan Model 8 provides a core process model for architectural design , simulation , implementation , and ongoing management of emergence for complex policies . However , the number of core elements and overall complexity of the model are significantly increased through both the introduction of pluralism into the system , and the change in focus from a Directed to Collaborative and sometimes Virtual systems-of-systems .
Figure 5 shows the Complex Policy Model for complex policy design , implementation , delivery , and emergent ongoing management .
As with the U . S . OSD Trapeze model , when converted to a WAVE Plan and integrated with the systems-of-systems WAVE Plan , the resultant WAVE Plan is intuitive , readily understood , and can be used to plan and manage complex policies ( Refer to Figures 6 and 7 ).
The Wave Plan for Complex Policy has two components , each of which is a systems-of-systems in their own right :
�� ��
Policy objectives , strategy , and political support Policy emergent implementation , using systems-of-systems .
These two component systems operate at different rhythms and with very different rule sets . The WAVE Plan for Complex Policy enables these two separate component systems-of-systems to operate as a Meta-systems-of-systems , and for them to be jointly planned and managed .
4
US Office of the Secretary of Defense , Systems Engineering Guide for Systems of Systems . Version 1.0 , August , 2008 .
5
D . Dombkins , “ Project Managed Change : the Application of Project Management Techniques to Strategic Change Programs .” Centre for Corporate Change Working Paper No . 062 , Australian Graduate School of
Management , The University of New South Wales , 1996 .
6
P . Acheson , L . Pape , G . Dagli , N . Kilican-Ergin , J . Columbi , and K . Haris , “ Understanding Systems-of-Systems Using an Agent-Based Wave Model ,” in Complex Adaptive Systems , Publication 2 , Editor in Chief Cihan H . Dagli , Conference Organized by Missouri University of Science and Technology 2012 , Washington
DC , 2012 .
7
N . Ricci , A . Ross , D . Rhodes , and M . Fitzgerald , “ Considering Alternative Strategies for Value Sustainment in Systems-of-Systems .” SEAri Working Paper Series , WP-2012-3-2 . Systems Engineering Advancement
Research Initiative , Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge , 2013 .
8
J . Dahmann , J . Lane , R . Lowry , and K . Baldwin , “ An Implementers View of Systems Engineering for Systems-of-systems .” IEEE International Systems Conference , Montreal , Canada , April , 2011 .
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