The measurement of a design structural and functional complexity

— The complexity of a design process or a design artifact substantially influences their performance. When evaluation of terms such as “design complexity” and its “quality” is addressed in studies, it is often performed in an ad hoc manner. This paper attempts to remedy this situation by articulating two definitions of design complexity (structural complexity versus functional complexity), their associated value measures, and the relationships between them. The structural definition states that a design complexity is a function of its representation. Defining design complexity in the structural way provides quantitative techniques for ng vague terms such as “abstraction level,” “design form’s size,” and “designing effort.” The functional definition states that a design complexity is a function of its probability of successfully achieving the required specifications (functional requirements and constraints). The proposed measurable metrics provide a proper ...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 1998
• Where: TSMC
• Authors: Dan Braha, Oded Maimon
• Keywords: Design, Design Complexity, Design Process, TSMC 1998