Systemsincluding

Systemsincluding is a term used in systems thinking and software architecture to denote the practice of modeling a system by explicitly including the other systems with which it interacts or upon which it depends. The coinage blends “systems” and “including” and is not tied to a single formal definition.

In this usage, a system's boundary is drawn to reveal not only its components but also its interfaces, dependencies, and contextual partners. By treating included systems as first-class elements, designers can trace data flows, control signals, and service contracts across the ecosystem.

Applications appear in systems engineering and system-of-systems discussions, in model-based engineering, and in service-oriented software design. Model representations may explicitly show inclusion relationships, such as a platform that comprises subsystems for authentication, data storage, analytics, and external services.

Benefits include improved interoperability, clearer scoping, and better risk management, since each included system is visible and contractually defined. Challenges involve added complexity, version compatibility, governance of licenses, and maintaining consistent interfaces across evolving partners.

Example: a smart city platform that includes traffic management, public safety, energy distribution, and citizen engagement systems; each included system contributes interfaces and data formats that the platform must accommodate.

Systemsincluding is not a widely standardized term; it is primarily used informally to describe inclusion-aware modeling practices. As such, its specifics vary by domain and modeling language.