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Rationality in systems engineering: Beyond calculation or political action
Author(s) -
Clausing Don P.,
Katsikopoulos Konstantinos V.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
systems engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.474
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1520-6858
pISSN - 1098-1241
DOI - 10.1002/sys.20102
Subject(s) - rationality , action (physics) , management science , foundation (evidence) , politics , quality (philosophy) , ecological rationality , computer science , economics , engineering , epistemology , political science , philosophy , law , physics , quantum mechanics
This paper is written in favor of rationality in systems engineering. Operational rationality is the foundation for the improvement of quality, cost, and delivery (QCD) that leads to continued success in the market place. On both sides of operational rationality lie pitfalls that plague most systems‐engineering decision making. On one side lies hand waving and political action. On the opposite side lies mathematical certainty, very enticing to the educated mind, but lacking in broad decision‐making capability. In this paper we set forth the principles of operational rationality in systems engineering. These principles guide the evaluation, improvement, and development of systems‐engineering practices and methods. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng