Systems Engineering: A Systemic And Systematic Methodology For Solving Complex Problems

473 Pages·2020·6.867 MB·English

by  Joseph Eli Kasser

Systems Engineering

Systems Engineering
A Systemic and Systematic
Methodology for
Solving Complex Problems
Joseph Eli Kasser
CRC Press
Taylor & Francis Group
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Boca Raton, FL 33487–2742
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Library of Congress Cataloging‑in‑Publication Data
Names: Kasser, Joseph Eli, author.
Title: Systems engineering : a systemic and systematic methodology for solving
complex problems / by Joseph Eli Kasser.
Description: Boca Raton : Taylor & Francis, a CRC title, part of the Taylor & Francis
imprint, a member of the Taylor & Francis Group, the academic division of T&F
Informa, plc, 2019. | Includes bibliographical references.
Identifiers: LCCN 2019020764 | ISBN 9781138387935 (hardback : alk. paper) | ISBN
9780429425936 (e-book)
Subjects: LCSH: Systems engineering.
Classification: LCC TA168 .K3636 2019 | DDC 620.001/1—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019020764
Visit the Taylor & Francis Web site at
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eResource material is available for this title at https://www.crcpress.com/9781138387935.
Dedication
To my wife Lily, always caring,
loving and supportive

Contents
Preface..................................................................................................................xxiii
Acknowledgements ................................................................................................xxv
Author ..................................................................................................................xxvii
Other Books by This Author .................................................................................xxix
Chapter 1 Introduction ..........................................................................................1
1.1 Why This Book Is Different ......................................................3
1.2 How to Read and Use This Book ..............................................4
1.3 The Parts of This Book .............................................................8
1.4 Thinking ..................................................................................12
1.5 Top-Down and Bottom-Up Thinking ......................................13
1.5.1 Analysis ......................................................................13
1.5.2 Synthesis .....................................................................13
1.5.3 Combining Analysis and Synthesis ............................13
1.6 Judgement and Creativity ........................................................14
1.6.1 Critical Thinking ........................................................15
1.6.2 Systems Thinking .......................................................16
1.6.3 The Two Distinct Types of Systems
Thinking .....................................................................17
1.6.4 Beyond Systems Thinking .........................................19
References................................................................................23
Chapter 2 Perceptions of Systems Engineering ..................................................25
2.1 Continuum ...............................................................................25
2.1.1 The Three Types of Systems Engineering .................26
2.1.2 The Five Types of System Engineers .........................28
2.1.3 The Three Different Domains of Systems
Engineering ................................................................28
2.1.4 The Difference between SETA and SETR .................29
2.1.5 The ‘A’ and the ‘B’ Paradigms in Systems
Engineering ................................................................29
2.1.6 The Eight Different Camps of Systems Engineering .31
2.1.7 The Three Streams of Activities ................................33
2.1.8 The Five Layers of Systems Engineering ...................35
2.1.9 The Tools Paradox ......................................................35
2.1.10 The Emergent Properties Dichotomy .........................36
2.1.11 The Difference in the Contents of Textbooks ............36
2.1.12 The Difference in the Knowledge Content of
Master’s Degrees in Systems Engineering .................37
vii
viii Contents
2.2 Big Picture ...............................................................................45
2.2.1 The Goals of Systems Engineering ............................46
2.2.2 Problem Solving and Systems Engineering ...............46
2.2.3 The Interdependency and Overlap
Between the Systems Engineering,
Project Management and Other
Engineering Activities ................................................48
2.3 Functional ................................................................................51
2.4 Operational ..............................................................................51
2.5 Structural .................................................................................51
2.5.1 The Standards for Systems Engineering ....................52
2.6 Generic ....................................................................................52
2.7 Quantitative .............................................................................53
2.7.1 The Return on Investment in Systems
Engineering ................................................................53
2.8 Temporal ..................................................................................54
2.8.1 The Successes and Failures of
Systems Engineering ..................................................54
2.8.2 The Evolution of Systems Engineering ......................55
2.8.3 The Evolution of the Role of the Systems
Engineer .....................................................................57
2.9 Scientific ..................................................................................59
2.9.1 Frameworks for Systems Engineering .......................59
2.9.2 The Principle of Hierarchies ......................................60
2.9.3 The Hitchins-Kasser-Massie
Framework (HKMF) ..................................................61
2.9.4 The Overlapping Streams of Work .............................62
2.9.5 What the Standards Seem to Have
Achieved .....................................................................63
2.9.6 Systems Engineering Is a Discipline ..........................64
2.10 The Emergent Properties Dichotomy ......................................66
2.11 The Answers to the Questions Posed in Chapter 1 .................66
2.11.1 What Is Systems Engineering? ...................................66
2.11.2 Why Are There Different Opinions on the
Nature of Systems Engineering? ................................67
2.11.3 Why Does Systems Engineering
Succeed at Times? ......................................................68
2.11.4 Why Does Systems Engineering
Fail at Other Times? ...................................................68
2.11.5 Why Does Systems Engineering Seem to
Overlap Project Management and
Problem-Solving? .......................................................68
2.11.6 Why Do the Textbooks about Systems
Engineering Cover Such Different
Topics? ........................................................................69
Contents ix
2.11.7 What Do System Engineers Actually
Do in the Workplace? .................................................69
2.11.8 Is Systems Engineering an Undergraduate
Course or a Post Graduate Course? ............................69
2.11.9 Which Come First, Functions or
Requirements? ............................................................69
2.11.10 Why Is There No Standard Definition
of a System? ................................................................70
2.12 Summary .................................................................................70
References................................................................................71
Chapter 3 Perceptions of Problem-Solving .........................................................77
3.1 Big Picture ...............................................................................77
3.1.1 Assumptions Underlying Formal
Problem-Solving .........................................................78
3.1.2 Selected Myths of Problem-Solving ...........................78
3.2 Quantitative .............................................................................82
3.2.1 Components of Problems ...........................................82
3.3 Structural .................................................................................82
3.3.1 Classifications of Problems ........................................83
3.3.2 The Level of Difficulty of the Problem ......................83
3.4 Continuum ...............................................................................83
3.4.1 Problems and Symptoms ............................................84
3.4.2 The Difference between the Quality
of the Decision and the Quality of the
Outcome .....................................................................85
3.4.3 The Different Decision Outcomes..............................85
3.4.4 Research and Intervention Problems ..........................89
3.4.5 The Different Categories of Problems .......................91
3.4.6 The Different Domains of a Problem .........................93
3.4.7 The Technological System
Implementation Continuum ........................................94
3.5 Functional ................................................................................94
3.5.1 Decision-Making ........................................................94
3.6 Operational ..............................................................................95
3.6.1 The Traditional Simple Problem-Solving Process .....95
3.6.2 The Extended Problem-Solving Process ....................96
3.7 Scientific ..................................................................................98
3.7.1 A Problem Formulation Template ..............................98
3.8 Complexity ............................................................................100
3.8.1 Continuum ................................................................100
3.8.2 Temporal ...................................................................103
3.8.3 Scientific ...................................................................103
3.9 Remedying Well-Structured Problems ..................................106
3.9.1 The Two-Part System Development Process............106