One Model to Rule them All … and Through Emergence, Bind Them

Abstract

Abstract Models are central to understanding systems and to the engineering of systems. Systems engineers employ various types of models to communicate shared understanding, through system life‐cycle models that enable the transformation of functional models to physical models, that are then realized as tangible systems of benefit to society. The recognition of the central nature of models to the engineering of systems resulted in the forming of Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) wherein the essence of the system of interest is contained within a system model in contrast to traditional documents. However, the evolution of model‐types employed, both to understand and to engineer systems, appears to largely have been a pragmatic activity driven by the needs of the numerous individual engineering and management subdisciplines. This paper briefly examines extant taxonomy of systems models used in the engineering of systems and in understanding operational systems and considers the question of whether there is a suitable system “meta‐model” that naturally “contains” all types of systems models used therein. It explores this question through a systems‐thinking lens, in conjunction with concepts on mental models from biology and philosophy. This analysis gives rise to framework for systems models and to the proposition that all (systems) models take on one of two forms: as reference models that aid in the engineering of systems or as representative models that aid in understanding operational systems. The paper concludes that it is possible to propose an emergent “model of systems models” that combines these two classes in an evolutionary way. This construct is offered for consideration and refinement by the systems community.