Title: Coupling quantitative vulnerability assessment and complex system governance for systems of systems

Authors: Charles B. Keating; Polinpapilinho F. Katina; James C. Pyne; Joseph A. Sisti; Adrian V. Gheorghe

Addresses: Department of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering, National Centers for System of Systems Engineering, Old Dominion University, 2101 Engineering Systems Bldg., Norfolk, VA, 23529, USA ' Department of Informatics and Engineering Systems, University of South Carolina Upstate, 800 University Way, Media Bldg., 211, Spartanburg, SC 29303, USA ' Department of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering, National Centers for System of Systems Engineering, Old Dominion University, 2101 Engineering Systems Bldg., Norfolk, VA, 23529, USA ' Department of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering, National Centers for System of Systems Engineering, Old Dominion University, 2101 Engineering Systems Bldg., Norfolk, VA, 23529, USA ' Department of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering, National Centers for System of Systems Engineering, Old Dominion University, 2101 Engineering Systems Bldg., Norfolk, VA, 23529, USA

Abstract: Complex systems of systems and their problems continue to confound our best and most noble approaches in design, execution, and development. The aim of this paper is to establish the need for coupling quantitative vulnerability assessment (QVA) and complex system governance (CSG) to better inform governance of vulnerability in complex systems of systems. First, a perspective of the situation facing modern system practitioners is provided. Second, QVA is introduced as an approach to understand potential weaknesses in complex systems of systems. Third, a framework for understanding impediments to complex system performance, CSG, is suggested. Fourth, the intersection of QVA and CSG is presented as a new and novel approach to more effectively respond to challenges facing complex systems of systems. Two scenarios (i.e., navigating challenges of the New Arctic and Critical Space Infrastructure) are used to demonstrate the utility of the QVA/CSG coupling. Further research is suggested.

Keywords: vulnerability; resilience; CSG; complex system governance; system of systems.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSE.2022.124979

International Journal of System of Systems Engineering, 2022 Vol.12 No.2, pp.114 - 133

Received: 28 Feb 2020
Accepted: 24 Feb 2021
Published online: 19 Aug 2022 *

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