Definition:
Concept Number: *055
English Master:Elementary
Synonyms, Variations & Acronyms: none
Detailing
none
Illustrations
none
Type
Adjective
Examples
none
Notes
1. A Component can be Elementary because it is unable to be decomposed into sub-components, or because there is no declared intent to decompose it.
2. The decision to sub-divide a Complex Concept into Elementary Concepts is a practical and economic matter. It Depends-On:
• the size and Complexity of a project,
• the need for precise control over System Attributes,
• the risks taken if specification detail is inadequate,
• Engineering culture,
• intellectual ability to decompose,
• other factors
Even when an initial decision is made about having no further decomposition of an Idea, later events and opportunities, or later more detailed phases of Systems-Engineering, may cause a Concept to be decomposed into Elementary Concepts.
The reverse can be true too. Initial decomposition may seem unnecessarily detailed or unnecessarily constraining. So, the Concept may be simplified from a Complex Concept back to an Elementary Concept.
3. The essential characteristic of Scalar Attributes, which tells us if they are Elementary, is the number of defined Scales of Measure. There is only one distinct Scale for each Elementary Concept.
4. Elementary Concepts are directly measurable or testable. You can only test or Measure a Complex Concept by way of testing and measuring the set of its Elementary Concepts. A Complex Concept is not the “sum,” but the “set” of its Elementary Concepts. 5. Normally an Elementary statement can have its own distinct “tag”, and can be treated {developed, tested, costed, Quality-Controlled} relatively independently of any other Elementary statement.
Keyed-Icons
none
Drawn-Icons
none
Related-Concepts
History-of-Concept
none
This Concept entered by Adore.
Table of contents: