The strategic evolution of systems : principles and framework with applications to space communication networks

Complex systems in operation are constrained by legacy; in other words, the existing properties, structure, components, protocols, software, people and etc. that are inherited over time. This inheritance heavily influences the type and timing of feasible and available changes to the system, the effectiveness and desirability of their impact while accounting for uncertainty, and the future constraints imposed as a result. This thesis introduces the Strategic Evolution of Systems, a novel framework for evolving complex systems that directly addresses legacy challenges during system operation within the context of space communication networks. The framework - perspective, position, plan and pattern - is based on Mintzberg's "emergent" interpretation of strategy. This thesis also presents several unique ideas including the concept of option lock-out, or the tendency to lose access to potentially desirable regions of the architectural space when exercising a transition; an energy analogy to model static architecture value; an entropy-based formulation to evaluate the desirability, or dynamic multidimensional value, of an architecture by considering the structural and temporal space of possible transitions; and the application of the entropy-based formulation to define the overall desirability of an architecture as its position, or current situation (favorable or unfavorable) relative to accessible alternatives, in order to identify the most advantageous immediate transition. A key contribution of this thesis is a method to value legacy in a physical non-market traded system, including a demonstration of its application to a system in which benefits and costs are nonmonetary in nature.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2009

Author dc:creator

• Manuse, Jennifer E

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Olivier L. de Weck.

• Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/54603

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/54603