Modular system synthesis: example for composite packaged software

The paper describes a framework for synthesis of a composite system (packaged software) on the basis of interconnected system components when the components and their interconnection (compatibility) are evaluated upon ordinal coordinated scales. Hierarchical multicriteria morphological design is used including generation of design alternatives (DAs) for system components and their combining into the target system while taking into account weighted interconnectibility among DAs. This composition problem is based on building a morphological clique. Composite decisions are analyzed by a quality vector which involves the ordinal effectiveness of components and their interconnection. A numerical example demonstrates the hierarchical design (integration) of the system, improvement of obtained design decisions, and multistage design.