Managing and Engineering Complex Technological Systems (eBook)

Avigdor Zonnenshain is the Senior Researcher at The Gordon Center for Systems Engineering at the Technion, Haifa, Israel. He has a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering from the University of Arizona, Tuscon. Shuki Stauber is an author, researcher, counsellor, and journalist. He is also a senior management lecturer and has written twelve books and hundreds of articles.

WORDS FROM INCOSE PRESIDENT ix

WORDS FROM THE HEAD OF THE BERNARD M. GORDON CENTER FOR SYSTEMS ENGINEERING, TECHNION xi

WORDS FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE ISRAELI SOCIETY FOR SYSTEMS ENGINEERING INCOSE.IL xiii

WORDS FROM THE WRITERS xv

PREFACE xix

LIST OF INTERVIEWEES (ALPHABETICAL ORDER) xxiii

PART I SYSTEMS ENGINEERING - A GENERAL OVERVIEW 1

1.1 The Origins, History, and Uniqueness of Systems Engineering 3

1.1.1 On The Essence of Systems Engineering, 5

1.1.2 The Different Types of Systems Engineering, 6

1.2 A Multidisciplinary, Systemic View 8

1.2.1 The Boundaries of a System, 9

1.2.2 Systems of Systems, 10

1.2.3 Managing the Human Factor, 11

1.2.4 Traits Derived From an Interdisciplinary, Systemic View, 11

1.3 The Systems Engineer as Manager and Leader 14

1.3.1 Systems Engineering and Technological Project Management, 17

1.4 The Evolution of a Systems Engineer 19

1.4.1 The Main Paths of Development of Systems Engineers, 20

1.4.2 The Evolution of Software Engineers Into Systems Engineers, 22

1.4.3 The Training of Systems Engineers, 23

1.5 Systems Engineering in Various Organizations 25

1.5.1 Who is a Systems Engineer? - A Question of Terminology, 28

1.6 The Future of Systems Engineering 29

PARTII AWORLD OF COMPLEX PROJECTS - THEN AND NOW 33

2.1 The IAI Lavi Project - The Dream and Downfall 35

2.1.1 The Feasibility Study, 36

2.1.2 The Project, 39

2.1.3 The End of the Project and Further Insights, 49

2.2 The Iron Dome Project - Development Under Fire 52

2.2.1 Background and Preparations, 53

PARTIII THE INTERVIEWS 69

3.1 Developments in a Complex, Technological World - The Aviation and Space Industries 71

3.1.1 Structured, Multidisciplinary Methods of Resolving Lateral Problems, 71

3.1.2 Planning Systems that Fit the Needs of Both Clients and Users, 79

3.1.3 Seeing Beyond Technology - Understanding the Mission, 86

3.1.4 Simplification Capabilities in a Complex Environment, 95

3.1.5 Complex Mega-Systems That Cannot be Supervised, 104

3.2 Developments in Industry and Commerce and in Complex Civilian Systems 111

3.2.1 The Ability to Identify Bottlenecks and Eliminate Them, 111

3.2.2 Well-Organized Work is Always Needed; the Problem is People Don't Always Want to Make the Effort, 118

3.2.3 Management-Oriented Systems Engineers Also See The Business Aspects, 126

3.3 The Influence of the Accelerated Progress in the Computing World 139

3.3.1 When a Critical Mass of Processes and Methods is Formed, A New Profession is Born, 139

3.3.2 Looking at a Problem From Different Angles, 145

3.3.3 Venturing Beyond the Core-Subjects to Study New Areas, 152

3.3.4 The Abstract Level of Discussion is of Great Value, 157

3.3 Systems Engineering and Academia 166

3.3.1 Applying Holistic Thinking, 166

3.3.2 A Powerful Natural Curiosity and an Ability to Truly Like People, 171

3.3.3 Expanding the Boundaries of the System, 175

References, 188

3.5 Systems Engineering in the World of Training and Consulting 189

3.5.1 Combining Engineering and Management Skills, 189

3.5.2 Model-Based Systems Engineering, 195

3.5.3 The Main Requirement: Keeping Up With Schedules, 200

INDEX 207