I wouldn't put it exactly like this, but I agree that many systems chugging along today (such as the COBOL running on IBM metal that powers banks) are not something people try to (or can) comprehend all at once.
Is that really a problem though? We can solve problems empirically even if we don't keep the entire system's workings in our heads.
Is that really a problem though? We can solve problems empirically even if we don't keep the entire system's workings in our heads.