Supporting system architecture assessment by two-level functional modeling: Process oriented analysis and comparison of large-scale systems

This paper contributes to the efficiency oriented assessment of system architecture. It proposes to use function modeling to support system analysis aiming at the development of efficiency oriented assessment approaches for complex system architectures. Efficiency orientation implicates the processes executed by the systems as focused assessment dimension. The two-level function modeling approach presented is based on a differentiation between a generic level and an architecture specific level of the model. This differentiation can be used case specifically (e.g. referring to different sub processes) within the model of one and the same system. The model's characteristics are aligned to a proposed priority-based procedure for detailed analysis of sub-processes. It embodies several dimensions of flexibility, capable of being applied case specifically. In an industrial example from the context of offshore drilling, the application of the modeling approach within the proposed procedure is being presented. Based on the results of this example, potentials and derivable insights are being presented as well as open research questions are being discussed.