Engineering Complicated Systems Still Needs Systems Engineering and Thinking

Abstract

In recent years there has been a totally valid move in Systems Engineering circles to consider and focus on capability / complex systems (of systems). This is important as the world is getting more inter-connected and the consequences of undesired emergence more significant. Unfortunately this has led to a "marginalization" of (simply) complicated systems, which were the bedrock of Systems Engineering practice. Whilst practice obviously needs to adjust when the system of interest is complex, the fundamental principles still apply and the Systems Engineering profession must not simply abandon consideration of complicated systems. This paper is intended to act as a reminder of how important the application of Systems Engineering is to complicated systems.

Detecting emergence in engineered systems: A literature review and synthesis approach

“…On the contrary, cause and effect do not exist in complex systems, the system is by itself adaptive. 46 Freund et al 47,48 suggests categorizing of systems complexity as a combination of structural, dynamic, and environmental complexity.…”

“…55 Complicated systems can be seen as sub-systems of a complex system-of-systems, and are the bedrock of Systems Engineering practice. 46 This literature study is limited in the sense of being a narrative synthesis and not a systematic review, which may result in not including all relevant literature on emergence.…”