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Re‐evaluating systems engineering as a framework for tackling systems issues
Author(s) -
Cook Stephen C.,
Ferris Timothy L. J.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
systems research and behavioral science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1099-1743
pISSN - 1092-7026
DOI - 10.1002/sres.822
Subject(s) - system of systems engineering , system of systems , biological systems engineering , health systems engineering , product (mathematics) , systems engineering , systems science , requirements engineering , computer science , component (thermodynamics) , applied engineering , complex system , systems design , management science , engineering management , engineering , civil engineering software , project management , program management , geometry , mathematics , software , physics , artificial intelligence , thermodynamics , programming language
The engineering discipline of systems engineering was developed as means to address the design, implementation and operation of large, complex technical systems. Whilst systems engineering includes methods for addressing the whole life‐cycle of the end product system, and processes for determining what should be made, it still reflects many aspects of the traditional engineering worldview. During the past decade or so, there has been a growing trend within the systems engineering community to appreciate that systems engineering has much wider concerns than just addressing the end product system, and properly encompasses the social aspects of the interaction of people with the end product system, and also the organizational system in which the development is done. Over this period, the framework of ideas that underpins systems engineering has also progressed from engineering science to a transdisciplinary position that incorporates many of the established systems approaches to management. In this paper, we examine the nature of contemporary systems engineering and conclude that systems engineering is a metamethodology for the development and evolution of large, socio‐technical systems. We argue that, as such, systems engineering is an appropriate methodology for any problem situation where the solution can be expected to involve a substantial technical component. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.