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How to Find Systems Thinkers

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Conference

2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

New Orleans, Louisiana

Publication Date

June 26, 2016

Start Date

June 26, 2016

End Date

June 29, 2016

ISBN

978-0-692-68565-5

ISSN

2153-5965

Conference Session

Engineering Management: Supply Chain, Systems Thinking, and Lean Initiatives

Tagged Division

Engineering Management

Page Count

7

DOI

10.18260/p.25489

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/25489

Download Count

711

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Paper Authors

biography

Raed Jaradat Mississippi State University

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Raed M Jaradat is an Assistant Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Mississippi State University. His main research interests include engineering management, systems engineering and management systems, systems thinking and complex system exploration, systems simulation, risk and vulnerability in critical infrastructures with applications to diverse fields ranging from the military to industry. He is a past proceedings chair of the American Society for Engineering Management. He holds a PhD in Engineering Management from Old Dominion University in 2014.

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biography

Sara E. Campbell Mississippi State University

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Sara Campbell is a first-year master's student in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering with a concentration in Human Factors and Ergonomics at Mississippi State University. She received her BS in Industrial Engineering from Mississippi State University in 2015.

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Sawsan Abutabenjeh Miami University

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Abstract

Systems thinking offers a particularly useful worldview for dealing with increasing complexities faced by individuals. This paper explores the nature, assessment, and implications that systems thinking holds for individuals challenged by the shifting landscape of modern complex system problems. Following an introduction that identifies the main attributes of complex systems faced by individuals who engage in complex system activities, three major themes are developed: 1) exploration of the concept of systems thinking: 2) suggestion of how enhanced systems thinking can increase the capability of individuals to more effectively design for complex systems; 3) a strategic framework and initial findings for application of an instrument for assessment of the level of systems thinking skills for an individual. The instrument is deployed to graduate students from different fields to determine and compare their systems thinking skills (Systems Thinker, Middle Systems Thinker, and Reductionist System Thinker) in dealing with complex system problems. The paper concludes with future research and application of the systems thinking instrument to better understand complex system problem domains.

Jaradat, R., & Campbell, S. E., & Abutabenjeh, S. (2016, June), How to Find Systems Thinkers Paper presented at 2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, New Orleans, Louisiana. 10.18260/p.25489

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