1

Editor’s Preface

E. Griffor,    National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg, MD, United States

A system is a set of interacting components that frequently form a complex whole. Each system has both spatial and temporal boundaries. Systems operate in, are influenced by and influence their environment. Systems can be described structurally, as a set of components and their interactions, or by reference to its purpose. Alternatively, a system can be referenced in terms of its functions and behaviors.

The notion of a system is ubiquitous. It is not simply a technical concept but it lies at the heart of how the mind deals with and conceives of and understands the surrounding world. It is the essence of how we design and build ...

Get Handbook of System Safety and Security now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.