An innovative approach to engineering complex systems of systems is developed. This approach relies heavily on case studies to drive the discovery of effective techniques. We will discuss complex systems of systems characteristics and behaviors, enterprises, the principled engineering of systems of systems, and distinctions between these forms and conventional approaches. A forward-looking, people-focused approach will be developed, with emphasis on systems thinking; posing a guiding architecture (not just architectural views) up-front that does not change much as the system evolves; balancing competing factors rather than subsystem optimization; pursuing opportunities as opposed to just mitigating risks; sharing information to build interpersonal trust; and communicating individual perspectives to collectively garner better views of the underlying reality. The overall goal is to revisit and broaden one’s “mindsight” in order to build more effective, resilient, scalable, and durable systems. Prerequisites: SYS 501 and SYS 510.
SYS 579S: System of Systems Engineering
Department