The Open Systems Approach at the SEI
The Open Systems Approach at the SEI
General Information
Contribute Your Definition
How Do You Define an Open System?
What Is Your Vision of Open Systems in the Future?
Open Systems Experience Reports
Reference Information
Open Systems Book
Open Systems Course
Related Web Site
Open Systems promise the faster and more economical development of high-quality systems that are technologically up-to-date. An open systems approach is important to advancing the causes of acquisition efficiency and system interoperability.
At the Software Engineering Institute (SEI), we have been working in open systems since 1993, developing courses, related products, and other sources of open systems information, including some work on formal standards.
General Information
What Is an Open System?
An open system is a collection of interacting software, hardware, and human components
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designed to satisfy stated needs
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with interface specifications of its components that are
- fully defined
- available to the public
- maintained according to group consensus
- in which the implementations of the components conform to the interface specifications
Contribute Your Definition of Open Systems
How do you define an open system?
There are many different definitions of open system. We invite you to contribute yours by sending e-mail to Tricia Oberndorf, po@sei.cmu.edu. Contributions will be reflected on this Web site as the work evolves.
What Is Your Vision of Open Systems in the Future?
Open Systems is in its infancy, and no one knows for sure where it is going. We invite you to share with us your vision of where this is all going by sending e-mail to Tricia Oberndorf po@sei.cmu.edu. Contributions will be reflected on this Web site as the work evolves.
Open Systems Experience Reports
One of the most critical needs in the advancement of open systems is the accumulation of knowledge about how to implement an open systems approach and what the real benefits and problems are in such an approach. We invite you to share with us your experience, lessons learned, and willingness to participate in more in-depth studies. Please let us know:
- the name of your system/program/project
- POC for further information
- a short abstract of the purpose of the system
- a short list of the standards being used
- information on the start-date and the status/stage at which the system is currently (e.g., writing RFP, developing, deployed)
- whether you have hard data that could be useful in the development of a cost model for open systems
- your plans for the system
Send e-mail to Tricia Oberndorf po@sei.cmu.edu. Contributions will be reflected on this Web site as the work evolves.
Reference Information
Open Systems Book
Managing Software Acquisition: Open Systems and COTS Products
In the rapidly changing world of software acquisition, open systems and commercial-off-the shelf (COTS) products continue to grow in importance. The acquisition of open systems and COTS products is an increasingly vital part of large-scale software development, offering significant savings in time and cost because of the expected functional and economic advantages.
Dr. B. Craig Meyers and Patricia Oberndorf have put together the results of much of their work in open systems and commercial-off-the-shelf products in the book, Managing Software Acquisition: Open Systems and COTS Products. This book will help you to understand the issues surrounding the acquisition of open, COTS-based systems. It covers such critical topics as standards, integration approaches, and models of acquisition. This book, published by Addison-Wesley, is part of the SEI Series in Software Engineering.
The book presents fundamental principles and best practices for successful acquisition and utilization of open systems and COTS products. It provides an understanding of the many issues surrounding acquisition of open, COTS-based systems. If you understand these issues, you can more easily deal with the dynamics of today's acquisition environment. Although the book focuses on the issues and principles surrounding acquisition of systems that rely on open systems and COTS products, it can equally apply to hardware and system acquisition. The book also highlights concerns that are of special interest to government program managers.
Terms and basic concepts are defined, potential benefits and difficulties with open and COTS-based systems are explained, and the ways in which open systems and COTS products affect the normal approach to system development and maintenance are described. A model of acquisition that incorporates both open systems and the use of COTS products is covered.
For more information, see the Addison-Wesley Web site.
Open Systems for Executives Briefing
Open Systems for Executives is a half-day briefing that is intended to introduce higher-level executives to the principles and issues of an open systems approach. It covers some of the things that must be attended to, as well as a basic approach to open systems development and maintenance. Three in-depth case studies are also included as evidence of successful use of open systems approaches. For more information, send e-mail to Tricia Oberndorf po@sei.cmu.edu.
Open Systems Course
Open Systems: The Promises and the Pitfalls course
Related Web Sites
For more information about the Open Systems Joint Task Force, see http://www.acq.osd.mil/osjtf/.