Exploring the art and science of systems engineering

INCOSE International Symp

Iandoli

Zollo

2016

Systems engineering has successfully contributed to develop complex systems in industries such as defense, space, energy, or transportation. Systems in those industries have in common their engineered or socio‐technical natures. However, systems engineering has been understood for a long time as both an art and a science. As a matter of fact, principles and practices of systems engineering have been exhibited in the creation of film original score, a major artistic endeavor. Therefore, it is sensible to investigate if and how the similarities and differences between the application of systems engineering in the development of engineered systems and the pursue of artistic endeavors can help in improving the understanding and practice in both domains. Specifically, this paper discusses how the same concepts are applied in artistic painting and in system architecture to reduce complexity and achieve elegance.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Painting Systems: From Art to Systems Architecting

INCOSE International Symp

Iandoli

Zollo

2016

“…Around 40 years later, these concerns have taken thrust again, leading the research community to hypothesize if architecture elegance could be a solution for those problems (Griffin, 2010;Madni, 2012;Salado andNilchiani, 2013a, 2013b).Systems engineering: An art and a science. More and more authors agree on the idea that systems engineering is both an art and a science (Ryschkewitsch et al 2009;Jansma, 2012). Specifically, it is asserted that an effective systems engineer needs to possess a good balance of hard-and soft-skills (Ryschkewitsch et al 2009;Jansma, 2012).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…More and more authors agree on the idea that systems engineering is both an art and a science (Ryschkewitsch et al 2009;Jansma, 2012). Specifically, it is asserted that an effective systems engineer needs to possess a good balance of hard-and soft-skills (Ryschkewitsch et al 2009;Jansma, 2012). Whereas the scientific part is necessary to produce actual designs, the artistic one seems to drive the value of the system architecture (Muirhead and Thomas, 2010).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Systems Engineering Practices Exhibited in the Creation of a Film Original Score

INCOSE International Symp

Salado²

2015

Abstract. Systems engineering has been successfully applied to a wide variety of industries, which include defense, space, energy, or transportation. All those systems have in common that they are engineered systems and/or socio-technical ones. Yet, systems engineering is considered both an art and a science. Therefore, could systems engineering be or have been applied in the domain of art, even if not done explicitly? Being one of the authors of this paper a systems engineer and the other one a music composer, this paper reports on the reflections of mutual discussions about how each of us of carried out our activities in our respective domain. Interestingly, it turns out that engineering a space system and creating a film original score abstractly follow the same set of principles and practices.

“…In fact, using elegance as a key driver in architecting engineering systems may provide significant benefits over following traditional processes [4]- [6]. This is in line with expertise research, which shows that effective systems engineers exhibit strong ability on both sides [2], [7]. However, the development and training of systems engineers tend to focus on the analytical and methodological side.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 77%

Lessons Learned from a First Attempt to Teach Systems Engineering as a Studio Art Class

Davis

2019 ASEE Annual Conference &Amp; Exposition Proceedings

McDermott

is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Engineering Education and a master's student in Systems Engineering at Virginia Tech, where she also completed her master's degree in Higher Education. She is the graduate assistant for the Rising Sophomore Abroad Program, a global engineering course and study abroad program for first year engineering students. Her primary research focuses on the design and assessment of global engineering programs, but she also studies the development of systems thinking and innovative thinking skills in engineering students. Before returning to graduate school, Kirsten worked for several years as a project manager and analytics engineer in the transportation industry.