All complex system development projects involve analysis of the system architecture. Thus far it has been assumed that there is some correct system decomposition that can be used in the architectural analysis without consideration of the sensitivity of the results to the chosen level of decomposition. We represent 88 idealized system architectures and a real complex system as a design structure matrix at two different levels of decomposition. We analyze these architectures for their degree of modularity. We find that the degree of modularity can vary for the same system when the system is represented at the two different levels of granularity. For example, the printing system used in the case study is considered slightly integral at a higher level of decomposition and quite modular at a lower level of decomposition. We further find that even though the overall results can be different depending on the level of decomposition, the direction of change toward more modular or more integral can be calculated the same regardless of the level of decomposition. We conclude that the level of decomposition can distort the results of architectural analysis and care must be taken in defining the system decomposition for any analysis.
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e-mail: Katja.holtta-otto@umassd.edu
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October 2011
Research Papers
Level of Modularity and Different Levels of System Granularity
Noemi Chiriac,
Noemi Chiriac
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
, 289 Old Westport Road, North Dartmouth, MA 02747
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Katja Hölttä-Otto,
Katja Hölttä-Otto
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
e-mail: Katja.holtta-otto@umassd.edu
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
, 289 Old Westport Road, North Dartmouth, MA 02747
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Eun Suk Suh
Eun Suk Suh
Xerox Corporation
, Webster, NY
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Noemi Chiriac
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
, 289 Old Westport Road, North Dartmouth, MA 02747
Katja Hölttä-Otto
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
, 289 Old Westport Road, North Dartmouth, MA 02747e-mail: Katja.holtta-otto@umassd.edu
Dusan Lysy
Xerox Corporation
, Webster, NY
Eun Suk Suh
Xerox Corporation
, Webster, NYJ. Mech. Des. Oct 2011, 133(10): 101007 (10 pages)
Published Online: October 18, 2011
Article history
Received:
January 14, 2011
Revised:
July 20, 2011
Online:
October 18, 2011
Published:
October 18, 2011
Citation
Chiriac, N., Hölttä-Otto, K., Lysy, D., and Suk Suh, E. (October 18, 2011). "Level of Modularity and Different Levels of System Granularity." ASME. J. Mech. Des. October 2011; 133(10): 101007. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4005069
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