Possible Geometric Explanations for Basic Empirical Dependencies of Systems Engineering

Authors

Francisco Zapata, The University of Texas at El PasoFollow
Vladik Kreinovich, The University of Texas at El PasoFollow

Publication Date

6-2014

Comments

Technical Report: UTEP-CS-14-45

To appear in Journal of Uncertain Systems, 2015, Vol. 9.

Abstract

In this paper, we provide possible geometric explanation for basic empirical dependencies of system engineering: that a properly designed system should have no more than 7 plus minus 2 elements reporting to it, and that the relative cost of correcting a defect on different stages of the system's life cycle is 3--6 on the second (design) stage, 20--100 on the third (development) stage, and 250--1000 on the fourth (production and testing) stage.