Complex adaptive systems are dynamically assembled systems characterized by multiple competing stakeholders, fluid requirements, emergent behavior, and susceptibility to external pressures that can cause change across the entire system.
Beyond Web Services: Towards On-Demand Complex Adaptive Environments
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Complex adaptive systems are dynamically assembled systems characterized by multiple competing stakeholders, fluid requirements, emergent behavior, and susceptibility to external pressures that can cause change across the entire system. Net centric operations for the US Department of Defense (DoD) can be considered a complex adaptive system, representing a shift from traditional system-based interactions toward informationbased web service transactions requiring highly secure, reliable, and dynamic "on-demand" capabilities. This net centric environment must accommodate unpredictable external factors that demand rapid response and flexibility to change. This paper presents an approach to modernizing toward global net centric operations for the DoD. We discuss key principles of complex systems engineering to consider, approaches to on-demand data and IT infrastructure strategy based on web service and semantic web technologies, as well as guidance and initial observations on spiral development and management using Communities of Interest combined with a Developer's environment.