Architecture of complex systems

Max amount of FITech students: 30 adult learners

System architecture is the study of early decision making in complex systems. This course teaches how to capture experience and analysis about early system decisions, and how to choose architectures that meet stakeholder needs, integrate easily, and evolve flexibly. This knowledge you can apply to traditional business application design but also to designing communications network to aircraft.

The course has visitor lectures given by professional 5G experts from leading telecom companies in Finland.

Course contents

• architecture of systems
• complexity and complex systems
• axiomatic design theory
• DSM
• analysis of conceptual and functional system structure
• upstream and downstream integration
• tools and methods to analyse and design complex system architecture

After completing the course, the students will

• understand what complex systems are and how their structure can be modelled, analysed and designed
• have learned to model, analyse and design the architecture of different types of systems
• have learned how to use theories and methods to design and develop complex system architectures in practice.

The course develops critical and analytical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making skills and IT skills.

Course material

• Edward Crawley, Bruce Cameron & Daniel Selva, 2015: System Architecture: Strategy and Product Development for Complex Systems. Pearson, 1st edition.
• Suh, N.P., 2001: Complexity: Theory and Applications. Oxford University Press.
• Scientific articles material provided by the teacher

Completion methods

Written exam, written group work and participation in possible visitor lectures.

The course can be completed online, but it has fixed teaching times.

More information in the University of Vaasa study guide. Course schedule is available in Peppi, when implementation is published.

You can get a digital badge after completing this course.