Exploring the factors contributing to system integration risks

Modern computer systems are becoming more powerful and complex. This growth in system complexity results in corresponding increase of system integration process (SIP) complexity. System integration (SI) phase of system development life cycle (SDLC) has the highest risks in system development, and is critical for system of systems (SOS) development. This paper examines the research efforts of research community in SI conceptual modelling. The potential risk factors associated with SI are identified, analysed and classified to form taxonomy. One of the recommended and helpful strategies for alleviating the SI risks relates to increase attention to potential integration issues throughout the life cycle. Based on the reviewed literature examples the paper explores cause-and-effect relationships of the specific system's quality attributes and SIP complexity. Those attributes are thoroughly addressed at every development phase starting from requirements, system architecture design, detailed software design and development, design for integration. The paper focuses primarily on technical aspects of SIP.