EngD in Systems (thinking)

EngD in Systems (Thinking)
Richard Craig

Outline
What is an EngD?
What is Systems Engineering?
What is Systems Thinking and
why is Systems Thinking important?
Research into Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

What is an EngD?
The Engineering Doctorate, or EngD, provides a more vocationally oriented doctorate in engineering than the traditional PhD and is better suited to the needs of industry.
The degree was introduced nationally in 1992 and combines academic research in an industrial context with taught modules in a range of related subjects.
The EngD is a 'professional' doctorate, equivalent to a PhD, but with the Research Engineer pursuing a research project while based within a company. The research itself is identified by the sponsoring company and confirmed as appropriate by the University.
Within the company, an RE is treated as an employee, eg with company hours of work and holiday periods. The company commits to supporting the research project over the duration of the 4-year EngD programme, and to releasing REs to attend taught modules.
All time spent on the EngD programme is fully recognised by Institutions towards CEng status.
Association of Engineering Doctorates, http://www.aengd.org.uk

PhD or EngD?
This candidate is capable of independent research
Abstraction / Generalisation / Roadmap
Projects

CLASSIFYING COMPLEX SYSTEMS
SOFT
PEOPLE
Extended human family Herd of elephants
SOCIAL SYSTEMS
Man-machine systems Organisations as systems Tech. management systems Safety management systems
In an EngD our engineering system is usually here!
SOCIO- PHYSICAL SYSTEMS
PHYSICAL SYSTEMS
THINGS
HARD

The EngD
Benefits: Competitive advantage
Original learning
Innovative solutions
Motivated and developed people
Problem field is agreed in the RE’s EngD agreement
Roadmap stitching portfolio together
Outcomes: Thesis that advances knowledge
Portfolio
Skills and techniques
Self confidence
RE’s EngD
Progress reviews
Conference & journal papers
Literature reviews
Project reports
Portfolio Components
Survey results
Models and maps
Assignment submissions
Taught Units

The Final Portfolio
Overriding research question
Main road map question
Research Q 1
Research Q2
Research Q3
Research Q4
Literature Review
How and when are decisions regarding…
.. and how are actions implemented?
How do material properties…
…affect heat transfer through material?
How does design and selection influence …
How do different types affect …
Stakeholders and the soft system aspects of the research
Background understanding
Hard experimental research
Hard research scoring based on predetermined assessment system
Hard/soft, depends on how we define sustainability etc.

Types of qualitative research….
towards Positivism
towards Phenomenology
Questionnaire (some open questions)
Ethnomethodology
Unstructured interviews
Structured interviews
Narrative methods/ storytelling
Semi-structured interviews
Metaphors and artefacts
Action research?
Focus groups?

An interdisciplinary approach, focused on defining the needs and requirements (especially early in development cycle),
Design synthesis and system validation whilst considering the whole problem, across the complete lifecycle.
Systems Engineering considers both technical and business needs of all customers/stakeholders.
This is the INCOSE definition
Systems Engineering is focused on understanding the full context for the solution being developed

Managing “more than a brain full”

The need for the Systems Approach
Every thing –even if it isn’t, can be considered as a system
Using System properties is a means to understanding and managing the complexity of a system and preventing unwanted emergence
A key aspect of complex engineering systems is the fact that they frequently suffer late-observed emergent properties - which are expensive and difficult to solve
The problems faced by system creators are only getting more complex – or will have more complex interactions with existing systems
The only known way of effectively reducing the problem is to apply Systems thinking systematically, rigorously as early in the problem life cycle as possible

The need for the Systems Approach
Big Picture thinking and the application of common sense to projects
A structured and auditable approach to identifying the requirements, managing interfaces and controlling risks through the project lifecycle
Making sure appropriate effort is put into understanding the purpose of system, and ensuring a top-down approach (rather than diving straight to detail solution)

What is Systems Thinking?

What is Systems Thinking?
aka systems analysis
Understanding the system elements
Understanding the relationships between elements (‘interfaces’)
Understanding any emergent properties
Systems Engineering
Systems Thinking

Emergence
Unwanted emergence in systems can be caused by
Variation (or failing to appreciate effect)
Sub-optimisation (or not doing system level first)
Dynamic effects (how systems change / behave with time)
Unwanted emergence can be dealt with by
Assuming it won’t happen (wrong, expensive, upset customers)
Solving when it happens (expensive)
Avoiding (most)

System and Influence Diagram example
CAR STOPS
What’s missing?
TRANSMISSION SYSTEM
BRAKING SYSTEM
IGNITION SYSTEM
THE CAR SYSTEM
POWER SYSTEM
FUEL SYSTEM
INFORMATION SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

My Research

The Critical National Infrastructure
Telecommunications
Energy
Finance
Government & Public Services
Water
Health
Emergency Services
Transport
Food

A View Of Problem Complexity Space
COMPLEX
KNOWABLE
Wicked Malignant
Messy Vicious
Wild Tricky
Tame Docile
Benign Clean
‘MUST READ’ PAPERS
1) RITTEL & WEBBER (1973)
2) KURTZ & SNOWDON (2003)
3) CONKLIN (2009)
KNOWN
CHAOTIC
Routine
Best practice
Trivial
Sources - Rittel & Weber (1973), Kurtz & Snowdon (2003)

OODA Loops

Contact
Richard Craig (richard.craig@bristol.ac.uk)
Realising the Potential of Systems Thinking
by Professor Mike Jackson
Tuesday 8th March 2011
Pugsley Lecture Theatre, Queens Building, University Walk,
5.30pm Wine and Nibbles to follow.
The talk will provide a brief account of the origins of systems thinking and its development over the past fifty years. It will review some of the successes and failures of the systems approach.
Full abstract is available at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/eng-systems-centre/events/2011/m-jackson.html
Mike Jackson is Professor of Management Systems and Dean of the Hull University Business School. He has written 4 books on systems thinking and its applications and edited 6 others as well as publishing over 80 articles in refereed journals.

EngD in Systems (thinking)

by richard_craig on May 23, 2011

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