System model

A system model (which is always an abstract system) is used to describe and represent a system which may be real or abstract. A real system, e.g., houses, trees, airplanes, etc., exists in the real world. An abstract system, e.g., symbols, languages, diagrams, etc., exists in the abstract world.

A system (real or abstract) comprises multiple views such as planning, analysis, design, implementation, deployment, structure, behavior, input data, and output data views. A system model is required to describe and represent all these multiple views.

The system model describes and represents the multiple views possibly using two different approaches. The first one is the non-architectural approach and the second one is the architectural approach. The non-architectural approach respectively picks a model for each view. For example, Structured Systems Analysis and Design Method (SSADM), selecting the Structure Chart (SC) for structure description and the Data Flow Diagram (DFD) for behavior description, is categorizied into the non-architectural approach. The architectural approach, instead of using many heterogeneous and unrelated models, will embrace only a coalescence model. For example, System architecture, picking the Architecture Description Language (ADL) for both structure and behavior descriptions, is categorizied into the architectural approach.

System model may refer to:

• Community Climate System Model, a coupled Global Climate Model
• Human visual system model, a human visual system model used by image processing, video processing and computer vision
• Internal Family Systems Model, an integrative approach to psychotherapy, relationship counseling and family therapy
• Solar system model, a model that illustrate the relative positions and motions of the planets and stars
• Viable System Model, a model of the organisational structure of any viable or autonomous system