Foundations of Systems Engineering

Part 2 is a guide to knowledge associated with systems . It focuses on knowledge that is particularly relevant to systems engineering , providing a foundation for the remainder of the SEBoK in Parts 3 through 7.

Introduction

A number of key terms are used to characterize system knowledge, in particular System Science (glossary), System Concepts (glossary), System Theory (glossary), systems thinking and systems approach . While these terms cover different aspects of the knowledge, there is some overlap and inconsistency in their use. To help explore systems knowledge and to relate that knowledge to Systems Engineering, the knowledge is organized as follows:

The basic idea of Systems and Holism

This is the fundamental idea that looking at something as an open system is essential to understanding it, and that reductionism (breaking it down and understanding its parts) must be combined with holism (considering the whole system in its environment). This idea is called systems thinking .

The collection of research and communities of practice based on System Thinking

This describes the movements over the last century which have used systems thinking as their foundation. They include General System Theory, Cybernetics, Operations Research and Management Science, System Dynamics, Hard Systems, Soft Systems, Critical Systems Thinking. We have called this System Science.

The set of ideas which can be used to think about system, independent of technology or domain

These ideas come from across the system sciences, and are collected into a System of Systems Concepts.

We have called these System Concepts.

A way of applying Systems Thinking and Systems Concepts to Engineered Systems

This is a way of applying the full range of hard and soft systems thinking; based on a combination of reductionism and holism applied to a system context (a system of system relationships based around a system of interest in its environment).

This is sometimes called Systems Thinking or Applied Systems Thinking. However, this is often restricted to the understanding of the needs for change and not the full life.

We have called this the Systems Approach, and have considered how it might apply to:

1. A Systems Approach to selecting and understanding the right problem or oppourtunity
2. A Systems Approach to synthesising and creating the right products
3. A Systems Approach to owning and using systems to provide services

In Part 2 these three aspects of a systems approach are considered independently. We might consider a problem situation to better understand it and make strategic decisions; analyze a specfic problem statement and synthesize a system to help solve it; or create and operate a network of systems to provide a service. The scope of Systems Engineering, as covered in the SEBoK, encompasses all three aspects of the systems approach.

Knowledge Areas in Part 2

The first two Knowledge Areas provide an overview of the different ways in which system and systems thinking have been written about by a variety of System Science (glossary) authors, and how particular aspects of this systems knowledge are of interest to Systems Engineers (glossary). They consider some of the domain independent Principles and Concepts that can be used to reason about systems; in particular the idea of a system context is introduced to allow consideration of different real world situations and artifacts as systems.

The next two Knowledge Areas consider the different Types of Systems and the contexts to which these concepts might apply. Three engineered system contexts are discussed: product system , service system and enterprise system . The approaches taken to Representing System with Models are discussed from a generic systems perspective.

The final two Knowledge Areas provide the linkage between this systems knowledge and the practices of Systems Engineering. The first describes a Systems Approach which can be used to understand, integrate or intervene in a system context. This Systems Approach is mapped onto the Systems Engineering practice in Part 3, 4, and 5 of the SEBOK. The second discusses some of the System Challenges that currently exist when a Systems Approach is applied to promote the successful fielding of systems; the current state of the research with regards to those System Challenges; and the resulting gaps in systems research.

Thus, to anyone using other parts of the SEBoK, the knowledge identified and discussed in Part 2 provides a better understanding of the underlying systems ideas upon which they are based. It will also define the key principles of a Systems Approach which will be referred to directly in explaining the practices of Systems Engineering.

• Systems Overview
• System Concepts
• Types of Systems
• Representing Systems with Models
• Systems Approach
• Systems Challenges

References

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--Radcock 15:07, 15 August 2011 (UTC)