Systems Engineering – A Matter of Perspectives

Abstract

This paper presents an “8 degrees of Systems Engineering” framework, encouraging readers to think beyond simply thinking of “nested” systems and consider the wider environment in its fullest sense. It draws upon the work of Meadows, Martin, Sillitto and Salado, amongst others, to create a simple framework with potentially far-reaching exploitation.

The aim of the framework is to break out of traditional mindsets that seek to understand the wider system context by simply drawing a boundary around the contracted for system and treating everything as either inside or outside. It is also a rebuttal to models which perpetuate the single system boundary myth and then seek to surround it with further layers of delivery and development “systems” rather than properly separating the concerns.

It has been used in several “awareness” level courses on Systems Thinking, where it has proved to be easily digestible by students and gives a much richer point of departure for exploring Systems Engineering techniques than simply using a “poached egg” type model. In particular, the ability to use the framework to focus discussion into specific areas of concern enables students to more thoroughly explore the techniques that can be used to understand options, uncertainties and issues.