In thinking about systems engineering we often set up a framework in which engineering receives a much stronger emphasis than the system aspects of the discipline. The INCOSE definition of systems engineering sets it apart from other engineering disciplines. In part it calls systems engineering, “. . . an engineering …

There is a misconception among many people – including many technical people – that technical people are not “creative.” This is not only wrong but detrimental because any problem-solving involves creativity. To the extent that technical problem solvers buy into the idea that they are not (cannot be) creative, they …

“The righter you do the wrong thing, the wronger you get.” Russell Ackoff In an interview with Phyllis Haynes on the Studio 1 Network, Russell Ackoff, Professor Emeritus in Management Science from the Wharton School, discussed one of the central problems in problem solving: addressing the right problem. This issue …

Systems engineers enjoy a decided advantage in the system design world. They are tasked (and trained) to see the entire design. It is the system engineer’s job to address the complete system solution. This means understanding the problem and the context as well as the design solution. That perspective advantages …