Conference Session

A Systems Thinking Approach to Solving Problems

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Joanna DeFranco, Pennsylvania State University; Fadi Deek, New Jersey Institute of Technology; Raghvinder Sangwan, Pennsylvania State University, Great Valley

Tagged Divisions

Systems Engineering Constituent Committee

trend include cheaper labor, the need for specialized skills and expertise, andcorporate mergers. For example, the outsourcing of various functions or activities of the softwarebusiness has become increasingly prevalent leading to “capability sourcing”1 particularly whencompanies’ expertise falls short in some technical areas. In addition, some companies alreadyhave offices that span the world creating a globally distributed technical asset, although they maystill outsource software development for strategic reasons.Globalization can, however, bring on big challenges. It is well known, for instance, that effectivecommunication plays a key role in the performance of product development teams 2,3,4,5.Researchers have shown that well-coordinated

Conference Session

Developing Systems Engineering Curricula

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Timothy Trainor, United States Military Academy; Daniel McCarthy, United States Military Academy; Michael Kwinn, United States Military Academy

Tagged Divisions

Systems Engineering Constituent Committee

the enemy upon anything like Equal Terms.’ The Officers are to be instructed in moral,mechanical, geometrical and physical rules.”1 Over the years the curriculum has changeddramatically however our mission of educating officers for the US Army has remained thecentral focus of what we do. The current mission of West Point is:"To educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissionedleader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career ofprofessional excellence and service to the Nation as an officer in the United States Army."2The totality of the West Point leader development curriculum is considered to be a 47-monthexperience in which students (cadets) must adequately

Conference Session

A Systems Thinking Approach to Solving Problems

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Renee Stepler, Pennsylvania State University; Steve Garguilo, Johnson & Johnson Inc.; Khanjan Mehta, Pennsylvania State University; Sven Bilen, Pennsylvania State University

Tagged Divisions

Systems Engineering Constituent Committee

envisioned atthe outset of the projects. To addresses these shortcomings, at The Pennsylvania State Universitywe are applying three key tenets of systems thinking to our humanitarian engineering and socialentrepreneurial ventures: 1) employing regulation via feedback to ensure that the system isactually working; 2) defining systems by their interactions and their parts; and 3) understandingthat systems exhibit multi-finality. The concept of multi-finality refers to (designing) a systemwhere the individual actors (inputs), the subsystems, and their interactions, all meet their owngoals while the system as a whole also meets its goals. In this paper, we lay the framework forthe application of specific systems thinking concepts to increase the

Conference Session

Developing Systems Engineering Curricula

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Wolter Fabrycky, Virginia Tech

Tagged Divisions

Systems Engineering Constituent Committee

definition of Systems Engineering. However, Systems Engineering is anamorphous, slippery subject that does not lend itself to such formal, didactic treatment. Onedoes much better with a broader, more loose-jointed approach. Some writers have, in fact,sidestepped the issue by saying that Systems Engineering is what systems engineers do.” 2Systems Engineering Defined. The definition of Systems Engineering and the systems approachis usually based on the background and experience of the individual or performing organization.The variations are evident from the following published definitions, with sources noted:1. International Council on Systems Engineering: “An interdisciplinary approach and means to enable the realization of successful systems.” 32

Conference Session

Developing Systems Engineering Curricula

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Satinderpaul Devgan, Tennessee State University; Sachin Shetty, Tennessee State University; Saleh Zein-Sabatto, Tennessee State University

Tagged Divisions

Systems Engineering Constituent Committee

 DISCIPLINES Abstract Systems Engineering is a life cycle engineering approach that is being used for development of large systems. It has been implemented by DoD, NASA, and most all major corporations such as Lockheed  Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, etc. There are over 120 programs  in systems engineering that are currently being offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels [1]. A  large  percentage  of  these  are  graduate  programs  or  certificate  programs  in  Systems Engineering and are mostly housed in industrial and systems engineering departments. Yet there are  only  a  handful  of  undergraduate  programs  offered  by  universities  that  integrate  systems engineering  in  main  stream  engineering  disciplines  such  as

Conference Session

A Systems Thinking Approach to Solving Problems

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

David Cochran, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Systems Engineering Constituent Committee

Functional Requirements thata system must effectively meet to satisfy internal and external customer needs.The first challenge is listening to and understanding customer needs. Functional Requirement(s)formally state the need(s) of the customer as the condition(s) of system success. In the spirit ofthe Toyota Production System DNA 1 , the students learn to define Physical Solutions to achievethe Functional Requirements of success for the system in which they work. Each PhysicalSolution is stressed and treated as a hypothesis to achieving each system FunctionalRequirement. 2The students learn that to reduce cost the system design itself must first be put in place. Theunderlying hypothesis is that sustainable and profitable enterprises must meet

Conference Session

Developing Systems Engineering Curricula

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Steve Walter, Indiana University-Purdue University, Fort Wayne; David Walden, Sysnovation, LLC

Tagged Divisions

Systems Engineering Constituent Committee

discipline. Some of the most widelyearned certifications recognize knowledge, skill and experience in fields such as projectmanagement, information technology, construction, education and various medical specialties. Insome of these fields, certification is necessary to obtain gainful employment.Most certifications are valid for some pre-determined length of time, typically 1 to 5 years. Inorder to renew a certification, individuals are often required to document their participation incontinuing education activities or service to the profession.Certifications provide value to the profession, professional organization, certified individuals, theorganizations for which the individuals work, and the public. For a sponsoring professionalorganization

Conference Session

Developing Systems Engineering Curricula

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Alice Squires; Robert Cloutier

Tagged Divisions

Systems Engineering Constituent Committee

the sixth annual Sloan Consortium report on online higher education in the UnitedStates, Allen (2008) states: “Online enrollments have continued to grow at rates far inexcess of the total higher education student population, with the most recent datademonstrating no signs of slowing.”1 (p. 1) As a result of these trends, online andragogy(theory of adult learning) has earned a prominent place within engineering educationresearch. The effectiveness of online andragogy in teaching engineering and science,however, is poorly understood. Currently, the perceived effectiveness of online teachingand learning lies on a continuum. At one extreme is the perception that without aphysical setting – that allows one to see and identify with class members