A Journey Through the Systems Landscape
Lawson, H. 2010. A Journey Through the Systems Landscape. London, UK: College Publications, Kings College, UK.
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Systems are everywhere and affect us daily in our private and professional lives. We all use the word “system” to describe something that is essential but often abstract, complex and even mysterious. However, learning to utilize system concepts as first class objects, as well as methodologies for systems thinking and systems engineering, provides a basis for removing the mystery and moving towards mastery even for complex systems.
This journey through the Systems Landscape has been developed to promote learning to “think” and “act” in terms of systems. A unique aspect is the introduction of concrete system semantics provided as a “system survival kit” and based upon a limited number of concepts and principles as well as a mental model called the system-coupling diagram. This discipline independent presentation assists individuals and is essential for building a learning organization that can utilize a systems approach to achieving its enterprise goals.
The eight chapters are presented as stops along a journey that successively build system knowledge. Each chapter terminates with a Knowledge Verification section that provides questions and exercises for individuals and groups. Case studies reflecting the utilization of the system related concepts, principles and methodologies are provided as chapter interludes.
The Systems Approach
This book describes how an abstract system can be mapped into an engineered system in accordance with the Systems Approach.
Life Cycle Models
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Life Cycle Characterization
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Representative System Life Cycle Process Models
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Applying the Systems Approrach
This book describes how a set of assets gets turned into a system in the Systems Approach.
Integrating Process and Product Models
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