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Systems Engineering the Conditions of the Possibility (Towards Systems Engineering v2.0)
Author(s) -
Willett Keith D.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
incose international symposium
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2334-5837
DOI - 10.1002/j.2334-5837.2020.00766.x
Subject(s) - computer science , obsolescence , adaptability , nondeterministic algorithm , risk analysis (engineering) , lever , action (physics) , simple (philosophy) , face (sociological concept) , event (particle physics) , engineering , theoretical computer science , medicine , mechanical engineering , paleontology , ecology , philosophy , social science , physics , epistemology , quantum mechanics , sociology , biology
Traditional systems engineering focus is on cause and effect . When we turn a wheel, pull a lever, or flip a switch we expect a certain outcome. This is a rules‐based approach where stimulus‐response is deterministic in a well‐defined, well‐bounded, finite, and predominantly static system. If there is any deviation from expected, there are simple systemic structures (logic gates) or simple rules (if‐then‐else) to provide optional courses of preplanned action. Human intervention provides the intelligence and action necessary for dynamic adjustment to a negative event (adversity, avoid loss); or, to detect and dynamically adjust to a positive event (opportunity, seek gain). The now and future discipline of systems engineering (SE v2.0) has the tools to transcend cause‐effect and effectively embrace the nondeterministic, flexibly defined, blurred‐boundaries, highly combinatorial if not infinite, and adaptability . Systems engineers can design solutions to adapt to predictable and unpredictable change in order for the system to remain viable in the face of adversity (loss‐driven) and relevant in the face of obsolescence (opportunity‐driven). In addition to cause and effect, SE v2.0 is systems engineering the conditions of the possibility . The intent of this paper is not provide answers, but to provide a framework from which to discern better questions and elicit research in the many technical areas that provide for continual dynamic adaptation of complex socio‐technical systems of systems. Realizing SE v2.0 will come from the hard work of many over years. We are already on the way with this being one more step toward formalizing a new discipline.