Is SEMAT addressing the Root
Causes of Complex IT
Systems?
Harold “Bud” Lawson
Copyright – Harold Lawson; bud@lawson.se; +46-70 5658077
LAWSON

LAWSON
 The Infrastructure Systems Context which enables Software Systems to be
Developed, Operated and Maintained.
 Hardware, Operating Systems, Middleware,
Programming Languages-Compilers,
Databases
 The Application Environment Context
 Enabling Systems, Cooperating Systems,
Environmental Requirements and
Influences
Copyright – Harold Lawson; bud@lawson.se; +46-70 5658077

LAWSON
 Continue to suffer from deep root cause problems in function distribution.
 The System/360 ISA – OS and Systems
Software Mismatch – March into the Black
Hole of Complexity
 The Estridge- Gates agreement giving
Microsoft free license to drive the World
Deeper into the Black Hole of Complexity.
(Wintel cycle)
 Finally – DARPA Clean Slate Program
Copyright – Harold Lawson; bud@lawson.se; +46-70 5658077

LAWSON
 Software Systems always exist in a wider
Systems Environment
 ISO/IEC 12207 (Identified Need for a System
Standard)
 ISO/IEC 15288 (Growing Utilization)
 Narrow System of Interest, Wider System of
Interest, Environment and Wider Environment
 Enabling Systems, Cooperating Systems, Culture,
History, Laws, Regulations, etc.
 The System Context(s) adds many complexities
 We need to “Think” and “Act” in terms of Systems
 (Travel in the Systems Landscape)
Copyright – Harold Lawson; bud@lawson.se; +46-70 5658077

LAWSON
Why do we create Man-Made Systems?
SYSTEM COUPLING DIAGRAM
Copyright – Harold Lawson; bud@lawson.se; +46-70 5658077

LAWSON
Natural
Man-Made
Mixed
(Thematic)
Project
Program
Task
Mission
Experiment
Facilities
Instruments
Theory
Knowledge
Thinking – “Understanding”
Acting – “Creating Solutions”
Copyright – Harold Lawson; bud@lawson.se; +46-70 5658077
Methods
Tools
Processes

Balancing Architecture,
Processes, Methods and Tools
LAWSON
Copyright – Harold Lawson; bud@lawson.se; +46-70 5658077

Balance between Processes –
Enterprise and Competence
LAWSON
Copyright – Harold Lawson; bud@lawson.se; +46-70 5658077
Heroes

Some Relevant References LAWSON
 “Function Distribution in Computer System Architectures”, Invited paper appearing in the Proceedings of the Third Annual
Symposium on Computer Architecture, Clearwater, Florida,
January 1976.
 “Philosophies for Engineering Computer Based Systems”, IEEE
Computer, Vol. 23, No. 12, pp. 52-63, December, 1990.
 “Salvation from System Complexity”, IEEE Computer, Vol. 31, No.
2, Feb 1998, pp 118-120.
 “Infrastructure Risk Reduction”, Communications of the ACM, Vol.
40, No. 6, June 1998, pp120.
 From Busyware to Stableware”, IEEE Computer, Vol. 31, No. 10,
Oct 1998, pp117-119.
 “Rebirth of the Computer Industry”. Communications fo the ACM
June 2002/Vol. 45, No. 6.
 “A Journey Through the Systems Landscape”, College
Publications, Kings College, UK, ISBN 978-1-84890-010-3. 2010.
Copyright – Harold Lawson; bud@lawson.se; +46-70 5658077

Personal Experiences of
Architecture Driving Concepts
LAWSON
 Pointer Variable (1964) based upon Linked Lists, Data
Schema and Indirect Addressing
 Flexible Central Processing Unit (1971) based upon
Semaphore Variables, Asynchronism, High-Level
Microcode and Language Boards
 Control of High Voltage Power Dispatching (1974) based upon Monitors and Asynchronism
 Automatic Train Control (1976) based upon Time
Determinism, Software Circuits and Black-Board Memory
 ISO/IEC 15288 (2002) based on System-of-Interest,
Recursive Decomposition, Enabling Systems, Processes,
Stages and Life Cycle Models
Copyright – Harold Lawson; bud@lawson.se; +46-70 5658077