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Key ConceptsTerminology

– systems engineering: an interdisciplinary approach and means to enable the realization of successful systems. It focuses on defining customer needs and required functionality early in the development cycle, documenting requirements, then proceeding with design synthesis and system validation while considering the complete problem. … integrates all the disciplines and specialty groups into a team effort forming a structured development process that proceeds from concept to production to operation … considers both the business and the technical needs of all customers with the goal of providing a quality product that meets the user needs.” (International Council on Systems Engineering, www.incose.org)

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What is a system?

• “an assemblage or combination of elements or parts forming a complex or unitary whole, ...” (pg. 3)– unity, functional relationship, and useful purpose are

required– composed of components, attributes, & relationships

• Properties of the components of a system (pg. 4)

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How complex can systems get?

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The Role Of The Systems Engineer• The role of science is to determine "what is" by

determining the "laws" of science through the development of theoretical hypotheses and experimentation.

• Traditional engineering design of components uses scientific principles to create solutions to a specification or "what can be".

• Systems engineers, working as a coordinated set of teams, determine "what should be" (i.e., system requirements)– SE is the interface between component engineering (the people

in search of physical solutions) and society (the people with a need)

– it involves the use of appropriate technologies and management principles in a synergetic manner

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An Example: DoD Systems Acquisition Process

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What’s Really Involved …

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Some Classifications of Systems

• Natural vs Human-Made

• Physical vs Conceptual

• Static vs Dynamic

• Closed vs Open

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Technology & Technical Systems

• Technology– the practical application of knowledge especially in a

particular area; a capability given by the practical application of knowledge (Merriam-Webster Online)

– recall EGR108 – technology impacts society / society drives technology

• Technical systems– all types of human-made artifacts, including technical

products and processes– most technical systems are hybrid collections of

simpler systems– the impact of the system usually extends beyond the

bounds of the system itself

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Machine Age vs Systems Age

• What’s the difference?– how people understand the world

reductionism: ______________________________

expansionism: ______________________________

– what is important to understandmechanism: _______________________________

teleology:__________________________________

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Homework

• Read Chapter 1 and answer the following questions at the end of the chapter: 2, 4, 8, 15, and 20 (note: refer to #18 & 19)

• Read chapter 2