Systems Engineering: A 21st Century Systems Methodology

This book conceives, presents and exemplifies a contemporary, general systems methodology that is straightforward and accessible, providing guidance in practical application, as well as explaining concept and theory. The book is presented both as a text for students, with topic assignments, and as a reference for practitioners, through case studies.

Utilizing recent research and developments in systems science, methods and tools, Hitchins has developed a unified systems methodology, employable when tackling virtually any problem, from the small technological, to the global socioeconomic. Founded in the powerful ‘systems approach’, Hitchins’ systems methodology brings together both soft and hard system scientific methods into one methodological framework. This can be applied when addressing complex problems, issues and situations, and for creating robust, provable solutions, resolutions and dissolutions to those problems – supposing such to exist.

This book details and explores:

• the systems approach, using theory and method to reveal systems engineering as applied systems science, bridging the gulf between Problem and Solution Spaces;
• a ‘universal’ Systems Methodology (including an extensive view of systems engineering, embracing both soft and hard systems) which encompasses all five stages of Hitchins’ 5-layer Systems Engineering Model (artifact, project, enterprise, industry and socio-economy);
• case studies illustrating how the systems methodology may be used to address a diverse range of situations and issues, including conceiving a new defense capability, proposing a feasible way to tackle global warming, tackling enterprise interventions, how and why things can go wrong, and many more.

Systems Engineering will give an immeasurable advantage to managers, practitioners and consultants in a wide range of organizations and fields including police, defense, procurement, communications, transport, management, electrical, electronic, aerospace, requirements, software and computer engineering.

It is an essential reference for researchers seeking ‘systems enlightenment’, including graduate students who require a comprehensive reference text on the subject, and also government departments and systems engineering institutions

Derek Hitchins retired from full time academic work in 1994, and is now a part-time consultant, teacher, visiting professor and international lecturer in the field of systems engineering. Previous to this, he held the British Aerospace Chairs in Systems Science and in Command and Control at Cranfield University. He has also held the position of Chair in Engineering Management at City University, London. His current research interests are in systems thinking, system requirements, social psychology & anthropology, Egyptology, command & control, system design and world-class systems engineering. He has had a wealth of experience, both in industry and in academia, having been (among a number of other posts) an Avionics System Design Manager for Tornado F2, Systems Architect for NATO Air Command and Control System (ACCS) and Advanced Identification System, and Consultant Architect for the UK county police service command & control information system (CCIS). He has authored two books: Putting Systems to Work (Wiley, 1992) and Advanced Systems Thinking, Engineering and Management (Artech House, 2003), and has lectured extensively over a 15 year period at undergraduate and MSc level in engineering management, systems science, systems thinking and systems engineering.