## 4 Discussion: Model for G-QMS in SoS
### Fundamental Principles
#### 4.1.2 SoS--Term and Attributes  
The SoS term and its defining attributes emerged as significant themes within the research, as evidenced by the results presented in Figure 2. This category [1] stands as one of the eight primary categories identified in the study, with Si\({}_{\text{Total}}\) = 17.33. The SoSE cluster is notably prominent in this category, contributing a robust 71.8% of the Si. In addition, the Maximum Number of Respondents index for this category is the highest among the eight parent categories, comprising 57% of the total respondents and 100% of the respondents within the SoSE cluster. Despite the increasing use of the term SoS, there is still no consensus regarding its definition. This finding rose with a high frequency and by 23.3% of the respondents. The SoS definition distinguishes it from a highly complex system, yet the boundary between the two is not clearly defined. The differentiation is often influenced by the associated SoS aspects related to the specific sector, organization, project, or situation in question. Furthermore, SoS encompasses many types and classes [29, 35, 41] and others. SoS is characterized by a set of unique attributes that not only set it apart from complex systems but also contribute to its definition. The SoS definition does not rely on the mere existence of these characteristic attributes, but on the level of each of these attributes (e.g., [29]). Therefore, the dominant attributes according to their levels play a crucial role in defining the SoS and its various configurations. This study is based on the SoS characteristic attributes presented in [27, 29, 52, 70]. However, the focus here is not to provide an exhaustive analysis of SoS attributes but to highlight those identified as central by study participants and those that have practical implications in real-world SoS efforts, especially in the context of quality management. The attributes considered in this discussion, ordered by their obtained significance level, are as follows: _Emergence property_ is the most significant attribute, presented at one level or another across all the SoS configurations. Since emergence is an inherent characteristic of SoS that cannot be completely eliminated, quality management tools and processes must be incorporated to mitigate its effects as much as possible. _Scale, Size, and Black-Box-Character_; in that the SoS projects often do not delve into the detailed design level of the CSs, treating some of the mature and professional CSs as black boxes within an assessment of calculated and acceptable risk. Additionally, the vast scale of SoS projects means that they may include CSs that are themselves extremely complex systems, each possibly embodying SoS attributes at a lower level. _Connectivity_: The management of SoS prioritizes _interoperability_, the management of interfaces among the systems, and determining specific interface requirements for the CSs [5, 71, 72, 73, 74]. Moreover, SoS is characterized by _dynamic interoperability_, allowing for the integration of new CSs and the adaptation of connections and interfaces as needed. _Autonomy_: SoS often lacks full control over the design and configuration of CSs, as these systems are not always developed specially for a dedicated project. This necessitates a definition of the requirements that most CSs already meet or, occasionally, compromises are required. The autonomy characteristic is expressed in the Configuration Management (CM) of each CS, where the more the CSs are autonomic to each other, the more the relevance of their individual CM to the SoS level CM is diminished. The above attributes are joined by the _Different Product Lifecycles_, including the integration of CSs considered as a _legacy_, which were developed in the past without documented specifications. This is a factor that poses significant challenges to the quality management of the SoS project, including compliance with standards and regulatory requirements.