SYSE.2:2 - Problem

A project-system choice does not determine the useful boundary or organization of the selected actual System or intended referent. The same desired effect can be achieved through different actual or proposed changes—for example, changes to the designated System, an external System, an interface, a Work arrangement, or several sides together. A containing System may matter, but parthood must be established directly. Use, interaction, placement, ownership, authority, affectedness, and shared environment are other relation kinds and require their own grounds.

One-way handoffs make this worse. A supposedly complete use description is handed to concept development, then architecture or realization discovers that the use cannot be supported. Conversely, one attractive technical concept narrows the use description until only its successes remain visible. The recurring engineering problem is to develop the use claims and system concepts together while preserving the distinctions needed to return a failed claim.