TABLE OF CONTENTS This section provides examples of views, first in a broader context and then within SE. The examples are used to develop and illustrate categories of views and characteristics of views.
This section presents some views that go beyond traditional engineering. The reason they are included here is twofold. First, they illustrate the breadth and usefulness of the concept of view. Second, many of these examples in some way support the scope of MOSES, which goes beyond traditional engineering to include the characteristics of complex systems, systems of systems, organizations, and enterprises, as well as aspects of science.
Hierarchy is an important and useful classification structure but efforts to define a hierarchy encounter a common problem: multiple competing hierarchies are possible. What is the right one?
Common proposed solutions include (1) pick one hierarchy and use it; or (2) do not use a hierarchical structure. In many situations, neither of these is a satisfactory solution. The problem with solution (1) is that no single hierarchy satisfies all situations. The problem with solution (2) is that hierarchy is an important modeling structure; depriving ourselves of this tool is not a good idea.
So what do we propose instead? The answer is views. That is, allow a set of hierarchies to be defined, where each one serves some purpose or addresses some concern. Treat each one as a different view. This solution addresses both problems mentioned above. One...
