Key Concepts

1
Key Concepts

• Terminology
• systems engineering an interdisciplinary
  approach and means to enable the realization of
  successful systems. It focuses on defining
  customer needs and required functionality early
  in the development cycle, documenting
  requirements, then proceeding with design
  synthesis and system validation while considering
  the complete problem. integrates all the
  disciplines and specialty groups into a team
  effort forming a structured development process
  that proceeds from concept to production to
  operation considers both the business and the
  technical needs of all customers with the goal of
  providing a quality product that meets the user
  needs. (International Council on Systems
  Engineering, www.incose.org)

2
What is a system?

• an assemblage or combination of elements or
  parts forming a complex or unitary whole, ...
  (pg. 3)
• unity, functional relationship, and useful
  purpose are required
• composed of components, attributes,
  relationships
• Properties of the components of a system (pg. 4)

3
How complex can systems get?
4
The Role Of The Systems Engineer

• The role of science is to determine "what is" by
  determining the "laws" of science through the
  development of theoretical hypotheses and
  experimentation.
• Traditional engineering design of components uses
  scientific principles to create solutions to a
  specification or "what can be".
• Systems engineers, working as a coordinated set
  of teams, determine "what should be" (i.e.,
  system requirements)
• SE is the interface between component engineering
  (the people in search of physical solutions) and
  society (the people with a need)
• it involves the use of appropriate technologies
  and management principles in a synergetic manner

5
An Example DoD Systems Acquisition Process
6
Whats Really Involved
7
Some Classifications of Systems

• Natural vs Human-Made
• Physical vs Conceptual
• Static vs Dynamic
• Closed vs Open

8
Technology Technical Systems

• Technology
• the practical application of knowledge
  especially in a particular area a capability
  given by the practical application of knowledge
  (Merriam-Webster Online)
• recall EGR108 technology impacts society /
  society drives technology
• Technical systems
• all types of human-made artifacts, including
  technical products and processes
• most technical systems are hybrid collections of
  simpler systems
• the impact of the system usually extends beyond
  the bounds of the system itself

9
Machine Age vs Systems Age

• Whats the difference?
• how people understand the world
• reductionism ______________________________
• expansionism ______________________________
• what is important to understand
• mechanism _______________________________
• teleology__________________________________

10
Homework

• Read Chapter 1 and answer the following questions
  at the end of the chapter 2, 4, 8, 15, and 20
  (note refer to 18 19)
• Read chapter 2