Managing and Engineering Complex Technological Systems

Preface

Systems Engineering – A Discipline in the Making

A discipline in the making, systems engineering connects classical engineering with organizational and managerial systems. It is, therefore, not surprising that one of the main skill sets required of a systems engineer (and its importance increases as the engineer's career progresses) is that of leadership skills. This fact stands in contrast with systems engineering being, at its core, an engineering discipline, practiced by engineers.

In the past, there had been a clearer distinction between professional engineers, skilled in their fields (for instance, electronic engineers, mechanical engineers, or computer engineers) and integration and management people, who brought together the technological systems developed by the engineers. But the ever-accelerating technological developments and globalization created a situation, where this separation delayed processes and compromised the development abilities and, consecutively, competitiveness of those organizations that unconsciously kept sanctifying the distinction between these two overarching areas.

For example, in the past, an engineer could demand to go back and perform countless tests in order to achieve technological perfection. But today, he must take into account such considerations as resource availability and scheduling. He can no longer act based on “pure” engineering considerations. Being forced to face other, systemic constraints, as well as the “traditional” ...