The creation of an effective design that satisfies the requirements is often the greatest obstacle to overcome during project development. This book discusses both specification and design, including software and systems engineering interface. It provides a consistent set of notations, guidelines, and a step-by-step process to explain the methodology.

The author ties the methodology to a rational development process that is measurable and repeatable: systems requirements analysis, system design, software requirements analysis, and software design. The book also addresses the transition from specification to design. It includes a detailed example of a large system with hardware/software interfaces and real-time feedback and control.