What Is the Smallest Model of a System?

ABSTRACT How we represent systems is fundamental to the history of mathematics, science, and engineering. Model‐based engineering methods shift the nature of representation of systems from historical prose forms to explicit data structures more directly comparable to those of science and mathematics. However, using models does not guarantee simpler representation—indeed a typical fear voiced about models is that they may be too complex. Minimality of system representations is of both theoretical and practical interest. The mathematical and scientific interest is that the size of a system's “minimal representation” is one definition of its complexity. The practical engineering interest is that the size and redundancy of engineering specifications challenge the effectiveness of systems engineering processes. INCOSE thought leaders have asked how systems work can be made 10:1 simpler to attract a 10:1 larger global community of practitioners. And so, we ask: What is the smallest model of a system?