<aside> 🚩 A system model is a representation of an intervention, or the design of an intervention, as a system.
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When trying to understand or design an intervention, it is almost always beneficial to think of it as a collection of interacting opaque boxes, each of which performs some relevant function that enables the intervention to fulfill its purpose.
A system model is a fundamental engineering tool for this.
For the sake of this course, we expect each team to develop and document a single system model of the team’s Integrated Concept, and to use that model to identify Design Issues that must be addressed before the intervention goes into production and use.
A system model consists of a System Diagram and a specification of quantified System Interfaces.
To prepare to develop a system model:
Given an Integrated Concept, follow the steps given in the System Diagram page.
Developing a good System Model is an iterative process. Do not expect to complete it in a single session. As your design changes and improves (that is, as you address various Design Issues), you will likely have to update your System Model.
It’s essential that your System Model reflect your actual design as accurately as possible.
A complete System Model includes: