SYS: Systems
Document Type
Code: SYS
Name: Systems
Domain: Technology & Data
Abstract
This specification defines the Systems document type within the BSpec 1.0 Universal Business Specification Standard. It establishes normative requirements, structured templates, and implementation guidance for organizations documenting systems within the technology-data domain. This specification enables systematic, machine-readable documentation that supports strategic planning, operational execution, and organizational alignment.
Purpose and Scope
The Systems document defines systematic approaches to designing, implementing, and managing technology systems that deliver business capabilities through functional features, technical architecture, and operational excellence. It establishes system frameworks that ensure scalability, maintainability, and business value delivery.
Document Metadata Schema
yaml
---
id: SYS-{system-name}
title: "System — {System Name}"
type: SYS
status: Draft|Review|Approved|Active|Deprecated
version: 1.0.0
owner: System-Owner|System-Team
stakeholders: [development-team, operations-team, business-stakeholders, users]
domain: technology
priority: Critical|High|Medium|Low
scope: system-development
horizon: tactical
visibility: internal
depends_on: [ARC-*, REQ-*, DAT-*, API-*]
enables: [PER-*, QUA-*, MON-*, INT-*]
system_type: Web-application|Mobile-app|API-service|Data-platform|Integration-hub
system_criticality: Mission-critical|Business-critical|Important|Standard
deployment_model: Cloud|On-premise|Hybrid
technology_stack: Modern|Traditional|Mixed
success_criteria:
- "System delivers required business functionality"
- "System meets performance and quality requirements"
- "System operates reliably and efficiently"
- "System supports business growth and evolution"
assumptions:
- "System requirements are clearly defined and validated"
- "Technical architecture supports system design"
- "Operational infrastructure is available and capable"
constraints: [Technology and operational constraints]
standards: [System development and operational standards]
review_cycle: monthly
---Content Structure Template
markdown
# System — {System Name}
## Executive Summary
**Purpose:** {Brief description of system purpose and capabilities}
**Type:** {Web Application|Mobile App|API Service|Data Platform|Integration Hub}
**Criticality:** {Mission Critical|Business Critical|Important|Standard}
**User Base:** {Number and types of users}
## System Overview
### Business Purpose
- **Business Function:** {Primary business function served}
- **Value Proposition:** {Business value provided}
- **User Types:** {Categories of users and their needs}
- **Business Processes:** {Key business processes supported}
### Technical Overview
```yaml
system_profile:
technology_stack:
frontend: {Frontend technologies}
backend: {Backend technologies}
database: {Database technologies}
integration: {Integration technologies}
deployment:
environment: {Cloud|On-premise|Hybrid}
platform: {Kubernetes|Serverless|VMs}
regions: [region1, region2]
```
### System Boundaries
- **Scope:** {What the system includes and excludes}
- **Interfaces:** {External system interfaces}
- **Data Boundaries:** {Data ownership and boundaries}
- **Responsibility Matrix:** {What the system is and isn't responsible for}
## Functional Capabilities
### Core Features
```yaml
features:
primary:
- feature: {Feature name}
description: {Feature description}
users: [user_type1, user_type2]
complexity: {High|Medium|Low}
secondary:
- feature: {Supporting feature}
description: {Description}
dependency: {Dependencies on other features}
```
### Use Cases
| Use Case | Actor | Description | Complexity | Priority |
|----------|-------|-------------|------------|----------|
| {Use case} | {Actor} | {What they do} | {High|Medium|Low} | {High|Medium|Low} |
### Business Rules
- **Core Rules:** {Fundamental business rules implemented}
- **Validation Rules:** {Data validation and business validation}
- **Workflow Rules:** {Process and workflow logic}
- **Authorization Rules:** {Access control and permissions}
## Technical Architecture
### System Architecture
```yaml
architecture:
layers:
presentation:
components: [component1, component2]
technologies: [tech1, tech2]
business:
components: [component1, component2]
patterns: [pattern1, pattern2]
data:
components: [component1, component2]
storage: [storage1, storage2]
cross_cutting:
logging: {Logging implementation}
monitoring: {Monitoring approach}
security: {Security implementation}
```
### Data Management
- **Data Model:** {High-level data model description}
- **Data Storage:** {Database and storage approach}
- **Data Flow:** {How data moves through the system}
- **Data Quality:** {Data validation and quality controls}
### Integration Points
```yaml
integrations:
inbound:
- source: {Source system}
protocol: {REST|GraphQL|Message Queue|File}
frequency: {Real-time|Scheduled|Event-driven}
data: {Data exchanged}
outbound:
- target: {Target system}
protocol: {Integration protocol}
frequency: {Integration frequency}
purpose: {Integration purpose}
```
## Operations and Management
### Deployment Model
```yaml
deployment:
environments:
development:
purpose: {Development and testing}
configuration: {Environment config}
staging:
purpose: {Pre-production testing}
configuration: {Staging config}
production:
purpose: {Live operations}
configuration: {Production config}
sla: {Service level agreement}
```
### Monitoring and Observability
- **Health Monitoring:** {System health checks and monitoring}
- **Performance Monitoring:** {Performance metrics and alerting}
- **Business Monitoring:** {Business metrics and KPIs}
- **Log Management:** {Logging strategy and log aggregation}
### Maintenance and Support
- **Support Model:** {Support structure and procedures}
- **Maintenance Windows:** {Scheduled maintenance approach}
- **Update Process:** {How updates and patches are deployed}
- **Backup and Recovery:** {Data backup and system recovery}
## Performance and Scalability
### Performance Characteristics
```yaml
performance:
response_times:
typical: {Typical response time}
peak: {Peak response time}
sla: {Response time SLA}
throughput:
concurrent_users: {Concurrent user capacity}
transactions_per_second: {TPS capacity}
data_volume: {Data processing capacity}
```
### Scalability Design
- **Scaling Strategy:** {Horizontal|Vertical|Auto-scaling}
- **Bottlenecks:** {Known performance bottlenecks}
- **Capacity Planning:** {How capacity needs are projected}
- **Performance Optimization:** {Performance tuning approach}
## Security and Compliance
### Security Architecture
```yaml
security:
authentication:
method: {SSO|LDAP|OAuth|Custom}
implementation: {How authentication works}
authorization:
model: {RBAC|ABAC|Custom}
implementation: {Permission management}
data_protection:
encryption: {Data encryption approach}
privacy: {Privacy controls}
retention: {Data retention policies}
```
### Compliance Requirements
- **Regulatory Compliance:** {GDPR, HIPAA, SOX, etc.}
- **Industry Standards:** {ISO 27001, SOC 2, etc.}
- **Internal Policies:** {Company security policies}
- **Audit Requirements:** {Audit logging and reporting}
## Quality Assurance
### Testing Strategy
```yaml
testing:
unit_testing:
coverage: {Target code coverage}
tools: [tool1, tool2]
integration_testing:
approach: {Testing approach}
automation: {Automated test coverage}
performance_testing:
load_testing: {Load testing approach}
stress_testing: {Stress testing strategy}
security_testing:
vulnerability_scanning: {Security testing}
penetration_testing: {Pen test schedule}
```
### Quality Metrics
- **Code Quality:** {Code quality metrics and standards}
- **Bug Metrics:** {Defect tracking and resolution}
- **Performance Metrics:** {Performance measurement and targets}
- **User Experience:** {UX quality metrics}
## Business Continuity
### Availability Requirements
- **Uptime Target:** {99.9%, 99.99%, etc.}
- **Planned Downtime:** {Maintenance window allowances}
- **Unplanned Downtime:** {Incident response targets}
### Disaster Recovery
```yaml
disaster_recovery:
backup_strategy:
frequency: {Backup frequency}
retention: {Retention period}
testing: {Backup testing schedule}
recovery_procedures:
rto: {Recovery Time Objective}
rpo: {Recovery Point Objective}
process: {Recovery process}
```
## Governance and Evolution
### System Governance
- **Ownership Model:** {Who owns and maintains the system}
- **Change Management:** {How changes are approved and deployed}
- **Version Control:** {Code and configuration versioning}
- **Documentation:** {Documentation standards and maintenance}
### Evolution Strategy
```yaml
evolution:
modernization:
approach: {Modernization strategy}
timeline: {Modernization roadmap}
priorities: [priority1, priority2]
feature_development:
process: {Feature development process}
prioritization: {How features are prioritized}
release_cycle: {Release management}
```
## Validation
*Evidence that system delivers business functionality, meets requirements, and operates effectively*Quality Standards
Bronze Level (Minimum Viable)
- [ ] Basic system overview with core functionality
- [ ] Simple technical architecture documentation
- [ ] Basic deployment and operational procedures
- [ ] All required metadata fields completed
Silver Level (Investment Ready)
- [ ] Comprehensive system documentation with detailed capabilities
- [ ] Thorough technical architecture and integration specification
- [ ] Structured operations, monitoring, and maintenance procedures
- [ ] Security and compliance framework
Gold Level (Operational Excellence)
- [ ] Advanced system optimization and performance management
- [ ] Sophisticated monitoring, observability, and analytics
- [ ] Comprehensive business continuity and disaster recovery
- [ ] Strategic evolution and modernization planning
Common Pitfalls
- Insufficient documentation: Lack of comprehensive system documentation
- Poor integration design: Tightly coupled integrations that are brittle
- Inadequate monitoring: Insufficient system monitoring and observability
- Scope creep: Unclear system boundaries leading to feature bloat
Success Patterns
- API-first design: Systems designed with APIs as primary interface with clear separation of concerns
- Observability by design: Built-in monitoring, logging, and tracing with proactive health management
- Continuous improvement: Regular system optimization and enhancement with data-driven evolution
- User-centric development: System design focused on user needs with iterative improvement
Relationship Guidelines
Typical Dependencies
- ARC (Architecture): Architecture design drives system implementation and technology choices
- REQ (Requirements): Requirements specifications drive system functionality and design
- DAT (Data Models): Data models inform system data management and storage design
- API (APIs): API specifications drive system integration and interface design
Typical Enablements
- PER (Performance Specification): System performance drives overall performance achievement
- QUA (Quality Specification): System quality standards drive overall quality outcomes
- MON (Monitoring): System monitoring enables operational monitoring and alerting
- INT (Integration): System capabilities enable integration with other systems
Document Relationships
This document type commonly relates to:
- Depends on: ARC (Architecture), REQ (Requirements), DAT (Data Models), API (APIs)
- Enables: PER (Performance Specification), QUA (Quality Specification), MON (Monitoring), INT (Integration)
- Informs: Development planning, operational procedures, capacity planning
- Guides: Implementation decisions, testing strategies, deployment procedures
Validation Checklist
- [ ] Executive summary with clear purpose, type, criticality, and user base
- [ ] System overview with business purpose, technical overview, and system boundaries
- [ ] Functional capabilities with core features, use cases, and business rules
- [ ] Technical architecture with system architecture, data management, and integration points
- [ ] Operations and management with deployment model, monitoring, and maintenance procedures
- [ ] Performance and scalability with characteristics, scaling design, and optimization
- [ ] Security and compliance with architecture, requirements, and compliance framework
- [ ] Quality assurance with testing strategy and quality metrics
- [ ] Business continuity with availability requirements and disaster recovery procedures
- [ ] Governance and evolution with ownership, change management, and evolution strategy
- [ ] Validation evidence of system effectiveness, requirement fulfillment, and operational success