1 defence engineering group systems engineering team - university college london - 5/8/2015 deg-set...
TRANSCRIPT
1
Defence Engineering Group Systems Engineering Team - University College London - 04/18/23
DEG-SET
Systems Engineering in Academia
How can Academia contribute to Industry?
Is Industry exploiting academic support?
Scene Setting Presentation to Academic SessionAutumn Assembly, INCOSE UKSwindon, 6, 7 November 2000
by
Prof. Peter Sydenham UCL
5
Defence Engineering Group Systems Engineering Team - University College London - 04/18/23
DEG-SET
The Key Role of a Systems Engineer
Science determines- ‘What is’
Component (or Detail) Engineering determines-
‘What can be’
Systems Engineering determines-
‘What should be’
- and has to cope with and manage Complexity
Buede (2000)
6
Defence Engineering Group Systems Engineering Team - University College London - 04/18/23
DEG-SET
This seems to sum up the task of SE
From ‘Signs that say what you want them so say ……’
Gillian Wearing. 1992-1993, Tate Gallery. Passer-bys were asked to write a sign.
7
Defence Engineering Group Systems Engineering Team - University College London - 04/18/23
DEG-SET
“The Systems Engineer attempts to predict the consequences of his/her systems operation”
ENGINEERING EDUCATION: April 1970 - FromInternational Science and Technology, Nov 1964
SEDept
Why we are here? Words from 1964!
9
Defence Engineering Group Systems Engineering Team - University College London - 04/18/23
DEG-SET
2. Newlygraduated Detail Engineer
3. MatureUniversityLeader -followingoptimal career path
4. Requirement forexperienced SystemsEngineer
The Knowledgeand ExperienceTee Diagram
Depth of detail
Breadth of topics
1. T diagram legend
10
Defence Engineering Group Systems Engineering Team - University College London - 04/18/23
DEG-SET
ENGINEERING EDUCATION: April 1970 – Cartoon From International Science and Technology, Nov 1964
“A systems engineer is a good engineer - only more so”
Summed up – again back in 1964!
12
Defence Engineering Group Systems Engineering Team - University College London - 04/18/23
DEG-SET
Complexity
What is meant by Complexity in SE?
Not so much how many sub-elements exist in system (i.e. like a VLSI chip) but evident when system:- Has large number of inter-relationships Number of interfaces between nodes is large Dynamic flows through interfaces are rapid Flows in human system comms hard to formalise Human cognition in high demand Level of cognition high in the many knowledge flows Degree of chaos high
13
Defence Engineering Group Systems Engineering Team - University College London - 04/18/23
DEG-SET
Hard Versus Soft Thinking Cultures
We think according to cultures we have experienced
‘Reductionist’ (hard) versus ‘phenomenological’ (soft) thinking attitudes need addressing in academic programs of teaching and research and in applications
BOTH essential to SE advancement – hard (depth) is the easiest to pursue and feel comfortable with. Soft needs breadth of understanding
Consider the following picture to see how you view life when confronted with a technical like system
14
Defence Engineering Group Systems Engineering Team - University College London - 04/18/23
DEG-SET
Are you a ‘Hard’ or ‘Soft’ thinker?
Arthur’s sculpture “Fertilization of Drako Vulen’s Cheese Pizza” 1975 Art Gallery of New South Wales.
Do you instinctively - 1. Look for and question its engineering detail – or 2. Look for the deep appreciation of what it expresses as a vision, mood, portrayal, etc?
15
Defence Engineering Group Systems Engineering Team - University College London - 04/18/23
DEG-SET
Mind and Body ProblemProblem with Cartesian dualism is still that
mental and physical worlds seem so different
Physical world consists of material objects which existin space and time and obeycertain laws that can be established by physics
Mental world is populatedwith thoughts which seem to be outside of space and time and which are subjective, private and unique to each individual
Yet these two comprise our SE systems!
From Robinson and Garret
16
Defence Engineering Group Systems Engineering Team - University College London - 04/18/23
DEG-SET
The world I live inthinks like me!
‘Systems Engineer Thinking’(Assumes ‘Closed System’)
Damn these bugs!
‘Rest of World Thinking’(As an ‘Open System’)
The Cultural and Stove-pipeCommunication Problem
BUT DOES IT?
17
Defence Engineering Group Systems Engineering Team - University College London - 04/18/23
DEG-SET
Real Complex Systems Problems
TransdisciplinaryTeams
Complex Problem Solving Needs the Right Perspectives
SE
(After Lawson)
1. $ bottom line driven
Degree of Dissent on Solution
Deg
ree
of U
nce
rtai
nty
in S
olu
tion
Qualities Needed to Solve Problems•Communications•Learning•Conflict resolution•Common experience•Transdisciplinary•Helmsmanship•Followship•Patience•Withhold judgement•Open Systems Thinking•Think broadly•Be in secure situation
Viewpoint is all important!
2. Precedent Systems
4. Really tough systems
3. Realistic simpler systems
18
Defence Engineering Group Systems Engineering Team - University College London - 04/18/23
DEG-SET
Importance of People
People are the heart of the
engineering of systems. They either:- make it all develop as they pull together not develop at all well due to silo (stove-pipe) attitudes do it inefficiently as they work in a state of chaos
Soft Systems are not given enough applied research attention in seeking to improve SE practices
The ‘Pragmatic SE Teaming’ Model shows the need for better understanding of how to share knowledge in multi-team situations
Designers are networking knowledge; these flows are not well understood re the optimisation of flows
19
Defence Engineering Group Systems Engineering Team - University College London - 04/18/23
DEG-SET
Needs Statement
Brain For each team
Brain(s) in
Overall Control
Output Product to Customer’s Need
Pragmatic Teaming Model
Real time Interfaces,many and vital
Mission:Teams work inunison toward fastest, right,solution
Knowledge and data flows between teamsall the time
SE leadership
Customer’s Need as Input
22
Defence Engineering Group Systems Engineering Team - University College London - 04/18/23
DEG-SET
Some Unhelpful Sayings About Academia
‘But that’s academic’ Isn’t intellectual thought relevant to the real world anymore
‘Academics are naïve about real SE’Yet UK academic SE leaders are well steeped in reality
‘Staff advancement is not helped by getting a
postgraduate SE qualification’
‘A PhD does not help career advancement in SE’
‘SE is not suited for PhD theses’ but look at the situation in many leading non-engineering enterprises
23
Defence Engineering Group Systems Engineering Team - University College London - 04/18/23
DEG-SET
Value of Education and Training
According to the US National Center Report on the ‘Educational Quality of the Workforce, Jan 1999 A 10% increase in Capital Stock yields a 3.4% increase in
national productivity. A 10% increase in Work Hours yields a 5.6% increase in
national productivity. A 10% increase in Education yields an 8.6% increase in
national productivity.
Education is currently funded in US at about 1.5% of national revenue so a 10% increase can yield increased national revenue of 8.6%
That is a value-adding amplification factor of up to 57x. (8.6% increase for 0.15% investment)
24
Defence Engineering Group Systems Engineering Team - University College London - 04/18/23
DEG-SET
Scope of Curriculum
SE Curriculum currently not that well driven by enduring basics; more by pragmatics that capture current practice well but do not develop minds for new solution generation
Will not assist maturity of growth of SE but propagate and prolong thinking of present ways
INCOSE ‘Systems Engineering Educational Environment’ study shows need for much different
delivery of SE education to the courses currently on offer
See [www.incose.org/index.emwg]
25
Defence Engineering Group Systems Engineering Team - University College London - 04/18/23
DEG-SET
What SE Research is Needed?Independent major studies (of around 1998) have
investigated what industry says it needs researched INCOSE US (Buede) – 200+ areas; mainly US; well
documented; used as basis of SECOE project SERF Report (Foresight/ Boardman) – 100+ areas; UK
survey of depth; published as matrix table Sydenham project list; 50+ with abstracts; personal ideas
Result of the surveys; support has NOT been that forthcoming from Industry for any of the areas!
• Significant Observation: Few are of interest to typical Engineering schools for not ‘engineering’ but need much support of other disciplines- who equally are not interested as it is seen as ‘engineering’
26
Defence Engineering Group Systems Engineering Team - University College London - 04/18/23
DEG-SET
Taking Stock of Academic Activity
No worthy study yet done for UK Presented here is a personal
feeling for the situation to give an
overall impression Need to carry out careful audit of
UK SE academic effort as part of a nationally integrated approach to understanding what is in the cupboard now and what should be there.
27
Defence Engineering Group Systems Engineering Team - University College London - 04/18/23
DEG-SET
Some Recent Key UK Initiatives
Foresight Panel in Aerospace and Defence Systems SERF and IEE Reports from above STEFFIE SE network initiative to integrate stakeholders better Ongoing National Advisory Committees after Foresight Various new MSc courses INCOSE UK Chapter and its annual events INCOSE UK Technical initiatives IEE and RAeS initiatives SEDRES data exchange Fourth Framework project
Overall have these given the UK their fullest potential?
29
Defence Engineering Group Systems Engineering Team - University College London - 04/18/23
DEG-SET
University Constraints on SE Campus Development
There is little dissent on what are the Academic Campus constraints on development of robust SE groups Lack of acceptance of SE as a ‘worthy’ area by colleagues Or – every group is in SE! Lack of acceptance a discipline Less than critical-mass SE Academic Groups cannot drive
campus and government politics re resource flows No adequate career path for younger academics exists with
result we are not forming SE academic leaders for near time successions of people, or with the academic culture needed for success in academic growth
Too little support given to new leadership appointments and succession planning
31
Defence Engineering Group Systems Engineering Team - University College London - 04/18/23
DEG-SET
Benefits to Industry from Academia
Medium to long term development, underpinning and maintenance of SE body of Knowledge
Formation and flow of suitable staff and their ongoing education
Consultants on call New ideas for better engineering of systems More effective use of government funds to support
industry via this work (as do other sectors) Critical review of how best to engineer systems
32
Defence Engineering Group Systems Engineering Team - University College London - 04/18/23
DEG-SET
UK SE Uni. Groups – 2005 Potential
Professorial Full Chairs – 25 (10 personal) Staff numbers – 400 inc. visiting appointments Students per annum in SE awards
Undergrads - 200, Postgrad Coursework – 100 in 10 locations Research (MPhil and PhD) – 200
Grants - £50m p.a. Publications (in SE) - 200 supporting generic SE Conferences and seminars – 10 (5 recurrent) Short courses – 50 (some as part of degrees) 20 major areas supported (20 people interacting on each) 100 visiting staff from other places
Overall this is a real support force for SE Stakeholders - and not dissimilar to that commonly enjoyed by major areas like telcos, software, etc.
33
Defence Engineering Group Systems Engineering Team - University College London - 04/18/23
DEG-SET
Where Are We Today C’W 1970?
The April 1970 issue of US journal ‘Engineering Education’ was a special on ‘Systems Engineering’. 12 papers reviewed the facets of SE at that time – it is revealing to compare then and now
We have possibly gone backwards Less universities involved nowDepth and extent of debate on SE needs is less nowThe size of University Groups has diminished markedly
UK has always lagged US in terms of extent of overt philosophy, education and practice related to SE - but both still do it well! We appear to be re-inventing a worse wheel Stakeholders give less support now Campus support for SE has not improved Campus leadership did not set up growth and succession for its SE staff
35
Defence Engineering Group Systems Engineering Team - University College London - 04/18/23
DEG-SET
Need for Plan for Developing National SE Academic Support
Current UK initiatives do not appear to have recognized need for development of critical-mass Academic groups that mature quickly to become mature robust entities
A national enterprise plan that works to make the UK a major ‘Engineering of Systems’ nation would allow better targetting of resources
INCOSE/ IEE/DERA/Academia etc. should be directing effort to this end as a joint effort for the good of the nation
36
Defence Engineering Group Systems Engineering Team - University College London - 04/18/23
DEG-SET
The Speakers
We are pleased to have so many experts here to address us. This augers well for this session
Their presentation time is quite restricted; they will give us food for thought and then join in the debate
Our appreciations are extended to them for:- Working so well and easily with the conveners Being messed around with orders, instructions and deadlines Sending in all that was asked of them Being here to make good contribution
This session also acts as a test run for the Academic Forum of the 2001 Symposium in Melbourne in July.