Chapter 2: Functionality of a bus system

In Chapter 1 I mentioned the concept of evaluating the bus system on the basis of its functionality and its performance in relation to achievement of aspirations in the context of the use of resources. This chapter looks at what I mean by ‘functionality’, how this is determined, what sorts of functionality I might be looking for and how that translates into a specification for functionality for a bus system against which I can evaluate existing systems and potential designs.

As discussed in Chapter 1, functionality is a set of functions evaluated on the basis of their ability to deliver achievement of aspirations given the wise use of resources. Therefore, there is a confluence of the achievements required in order to meet our vision and those that can be provided by the various systems that could contribute to that achievement. It should be obvious that the bus system cannot enable an improvement in wellbeing all on its own. However, the bus system is a facilitator. It enables other things to happen which can improve wellbeing. So the first of our functionality requirements is that the bus system needs to be able to act as the facilitator as well as being a generator of improved wellbeing in its own right.