Scenario-Based Systems Integration

From scenario-based design to systems integration: link narratives to CONOPS, use cases, function allocation and human-in-the-loop tests.
Human-System Integration
System Engineering
Methodology
Authors

Dimitri Masson

Guy André Boy

Published

January 1, 2026

Abstract

The design and development of complex sociotechnical systems (STSs) require a human-centered approach due to their complex nature and dynamic interactions. This chapter highlights the importance of a human-centered perspective in STS design and explores the use of Scenario-Based Design (SBD) from a human systems integration perspective. It offers insight into the essential role of SBD in addressing operational needs and ethical considerations, as well as the transition from SBD to scenario-based systems integration (SBSI) for effective development of STSs. In addition, this chapter looks in detail at the evolution from SBD to SBSI and provides practical advice. SBSI encompasses integrating SBD principles into a comprehensive framework to address the complex challenges of developing STSs. The human-centered design of any complex STS imperatively requires adopting a multi-agent, multi-perspective approach. Indeed, complex STSs often involve various stakeholders, each with distinct roles and interactions. This approach ensures that the STS can respond effectively to all agents’ needs and responsibilities, promoting cooperation and synergy. Beyond the technical aspects, considerations include operational functionality, safety, management scalability, and training, leading to a holistic and robust STS design. SBSI is about moving from flexible narratives to formal models. This involves increasing the precision of descriptions, integrating with existing formal representations used in system engineering (SE), and extending SBD across the entire system lifecycle. The chapter discusses the connection between SBD and various aspects of SE, including the Concept of Operations (CONOPS), use cases, function allocation, and the early integration of verification and validation through humans-in-the-loop simulations. Given STS’s complexity and emergent properties, early testing with humans becomes paramount, ensuring the system aligns with its intended goals and operational personnel requirements. In conclusion, this chapter underscores the pivotal role of SBD and SBSI in developing complex STSs. Readers will learn how these methodologies can create and maintain efficient, adaptable, and operations-centric STSs.

Citation

BibTeX citation:
@inbook{masson2026_ScenarioBasedSystems,
  author = {Masson, Dimitri and Boy, Guy André},
  publisher = {CRC Press},
  title = {Scenario-Based {Systems} {Integration}},
  booktitle = {Handbook of Sociotechnical Systems A Human Systems
    Integration Approach},
  url = {https://dhmmasson.github.io/publications/masson2026_ScenarioBasedSystems.html},
  isbn = {978-1-041-12228-9},
  langid = {en}
}
For attribution, please cite this work as:
Masson, D., & Boy, G. A. (n.d.). Scenario-Based Systems Integration. In Handbook of Sociotechnical Systems A Human Systems Integration Approach. CRC Press. https://dhmmasson.github.io/publications/masson2026_ScenarioBasedSystems.html