EngD in Systems (Thinking)

Richard Craig

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Outline• What is an EngD?• What is Systems Engineering?• What is Systems Thinking and

why is Systems Thinking important?• Research into Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

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What is an EngD?

• The Engineering Doctorate, or EngD, provides a more vocationally oriented doctorate in

engineering than the traditional PhD and is better suited to the needs of industry.

• The degree was introduced nationally in 1992 and combines academic research in an industrial

context with taught modules in a range of related subjects. 

• The EngD is a 'professional' doctorate, equivalent to a PhD, but with the Research Engineer

pursuing a research project while based within a company. The research itself is identified by the

sponsoring company and confirmed as appropriate by the University.

• Within the company, an RE is treated as an employee, eg with company hours of work and

holiday periods. The company commits to supporting the research project over the duration of the

4-year EngD programme, and to releasing REs to attend taught modules.

• All time spent on the EngD programme is fully recognised by Institutions towards CEng status.

Association of Engineering Doctorates, http://www.aengd.org.uk

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PhD or EngD?

PhD EngDTime 3yrs 4yrs

Money (Stipend) 14k 18k

Holiday Lots? 25 days

Focus Academic Industrial

Projects

This candidate is capable of independent research

Abstraction / Generalisation / Roadmap

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CLASSIFYING COMPLEX SYSTEMS

SOCIAL SYSTEMS

SOCIO- PHYSICAL SYSTEMS

PHYSICAL SYSTEMS

Man-machine systems Organisations as systems Tech. management systems Safety management systems

Extended human family Herd of elephants

SOFT

HARD

PEOPLE

THINGS

In an EngD our engineering system is usually here!

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The EngD

Roadmap stitching portfolio together

RE’s EngD

Portfolio Components

Conference & journal papers

Assignment submissions

Project reports

Literature reviews

Survey resultsModels and

maps

Outcomes: Thesis that advances knowledgePortfolioSkills and techniquesSelf confidence

Benefits: Competitive advantage

Original learningInnovative solutionsMotivated and developed people

Problem field is agreed in the RE’s EngD agreement

Taught Units

Progress reviews

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The Final Portfolio

How and when are decisions regarding…

.. and how are actions implemented?

Research Q 1

How do material properties…

…affect heat transfer through material?

Research Q2

How does design and selection influence …

Research Q3

How do different types affect …

Research Q4

Main road map question

Overriding research question

Stakeholders and the soft system aspects of the research

Hard experimental research

Hard research scoring based on predetermined assessment system

Hard/soft, depends on how we define sustainability etc.

Literature Review

Background understanding

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Types of qualitative research….

towards Positivism towards Phenomenology

Unstructured interviewsStructured

interviewsSemi-structured

interviews

Focus groups?

Ethnomethodology

Action research?

Narrative methods/ storytelling

Metaphors and artefacts

Questionnaire (some open questions)

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What is Systems Engineering?

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What is Systems Engineering?

• An interdisciplinary approach, focused on defining the needs and requirements (especially early in development cycle),

• Design synthesis and system validation whilst considering the whole problem, across the complete lifecycle.

• Systems Engineering considers both technical and business needs of all customers/stakeholders.

This is the INCOSE definition

• Systems Engineering is focused on understanding the full context for the solution being developed

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What is Systems Engineering?• Managing “more than a brain full”

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The need for the Systems Approach• Every thing –even if it isn’t, can be considered as a system• Using System properties is a means to understanding and

managing the complexity of a system and preventing unwanted emergence

• A key aspect of complex engineering systems is the fact that they frequently suffer late-observed emergent properties - which are expensive and difficult to solve

• The problems faced by system creators are only getting more complex – or will have more complex interactions with existing systems

• The only known way of effectively reducing the problem is to apply Systems thinking systematically, rigorously as early in the problem life cycle as possible

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The need for the Systems Approach• Big Picture thinking and the application of common sense to

projects• A structured and auditable approach to identifying the

requirements, managing interfaces and controlling risks through the project lifecycle

• Making sure appropriate effort is put into understanding the purpose of system, and ensuring a top-down approach (rather than diving straight to detail solution)

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What is Systems Thinking?

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What is Systems Thinking?

• Understanding the system elements • Understanding the relationships between elements (‘interfaces’)• Understanding any emergent properties

aka systems analysis

Systems Thinking Systems Engineering

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EmergenceUnwanted emergence in systems can be caused by• Variation (or failing to appreciate effect)

• Sub-optimisation (or not doing system level first)

• Dynamic effects (how systems change / behave with

time)

Unwanted emergence can be dealt with by • Assuming it won’t happen (wrong,

expensive, upset customers)

• Solving when it happens (expensive)

• Avoiding (most)

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System and Influence Diagram example

POWER SYSTEM

TRANSMISSION SYSTEM

IGNITION SYSTEM

FUEL SYSTEM

INFORMATION SYSTEMELECTRICAL

SYSTEM

BRAKING SYSTEM

THE CAR SYSTEM

CAR STOPSWhat’s

missing?

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My Research

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The Critical National Infrastructure

TelecommunicationsEnergyFinanceGovernment & Public ServicesWater Health Emergency ServicesTransportFood

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A View Of Problem Complexity Space

• KNOWN

•

• KNOWABLE• COMPLEX

• CHAOTIC

• Sources - Rittel & Weber (1973), Kurtz & Snowdon (2003)

• Wicked Malignant

• Messy Vicious

• Wild Tricky

• Tame Docile

• Benign Clean• ‘MUST READ’ PAPERS

• 1) RITTEL & WEBBER (1973)

• 2) KURTZ & SNOWDON (2003)

• 3) CONKLIN (2009)

• Routine

• Best practice

• Trivial

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OODA Loops

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Contact• Richard Craig (richard.craig@bristol.ac.uk)

Realising the Potential of Systems Thinking by Professor Mike Jackson Tuesday 8th March 2011 Pugsley Lecture Theatre, Queens Building, University Walk,5.30pm Wine and Nibbles to follow.

The talk will provide a brief account of the origins of systems thinking and its development over the past fifty years. It will review some of the successes and failures of the systems approach. Full abstract is available at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/eng-systems-centre/events/2011/m-jackson.html

Mike Jackson is Professor of Management Systems and Dean of the Hull University Business School. He has written 4 books on systems thinking and its applications and edited 6 others as well as publishing over 80 articles in refereed journals.