Beating the bounds (defining systems engineering boundaries)

Systems engineering deals with the organisation, development and extension of large-scale systems. It is a rational approach to decision-making, aiming to solve complex problems in engineering planning, design and operation. The definition of system boundaries is a fundamental part of the discipline of systems engineering. Drawing the boundary correctly is crucial to the design and implementation of effective systems-to solve a systems problem we must know what the system is. Questions which must continually be asked during the lifecycle of a system are: What is the system for? Does it fulfil its purpose? What factors will affect the system's behaviour? Can anything be done to alter the effects of such factors? Will the environment change? One example, the telephone system, and one case study from the area of computer security, will be used to illustrate the importance of system definition.<>