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 characterise system knowledge, in particular System Science, Systems Concepts, Systems Theory, System 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 the systems knowledge, and to relate that knowledge to Systems Engineering, we have organized the knowledge 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 understand it, and that reductionism (breaking it down and understanding its parts) must be combined with holism (considering the whole system in its environment).

We have called this 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 there 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:

A Systems Approach to selecting and understanding the right problem or oppourtunity
A Systems Approach to synthesising and creating the right products.
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; analyse a specfic problem statement and synthesise 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 Area provides 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 we can use 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 Challenges which might arise when we try to take a Systems Approach in the application of Systems Engineering practices in the real world.

Thus, the knowledge identified and discussed in Part 2 will provide better understanding to anyone using the other parts of the SEBoK of the underlying systems ideas upon which it is 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.

References

Citations

List all references cited in the article. Note: SEBoK 0.5 uses Chicago Manual of Style (15th ed). See the BKCASE Reference Guidance for additional information.

Primary References

All primary references should be listed in alphabetical order. Remember to identify primary references by creating an internal link using the ‘’’reference title only’’’ (title). Please do not include version numbers in the links.