Systems World

What are the books about?

Systems Engineering:

The real thing, that is, not some pale imitation...

What do you mean by “the real thing?”

Well, all kinds of things have been presenting themselves as systems engineering recently , when they are clearly NOT.

Can you explain, please?

Well, Systems Engineering is NOT any of the following:

1. project management
2. program management
3. engineering management
4. engineering
5. systems management
6. systems engineering management
7. quality management

Once you differentiate from those perfectly respectable, established practices and disciplines, you can see systems engineering as it essentially is...

Yes, of course, it may be necessary to manage a team of systems engineers, but managing systems engineers, and ‘managing’ systems engineering is not the same as ‘doing’ systems engineering.

That would be like saying that managing a machine shop is the same as machining an engine block;  it’s not. Different thing; different skills.

Or that managing a football team is the same as playing football; it’s not. Again, different thing; different skills-as many footballers-turned-managers have found to their cost.

So, what is Systems Engineering?

Essentially, it is about problem solving - generally, complex sociotechnical - and hence socio economic - problems. Usually big problems...

To answer directly, systems engineering is:

”Synthesising a solution system from interacting parts to perform with optimum effectiveness in its operational environment, and so to solve the problem that prompted its creation.”

Bit of a mouthful?

Well, yes, I suppose so, but you did ask. And, didn’t anyone tell you? I’m a cantankerous old systems architect.