Systems Engineering: A 21st Century Systems Methodology Book

This book conceives, presents & exemplifies a contemporary, general systems methodology that is straightforward & accessible, providing guidance in practical application, as well as explaining concept & theory. The book is presented both as a text for students, with topic assignments, and as a reference for practitioners.Utilizing recent research & developments in systems science, methods & 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 & hard system scientific methods into one methodological framework. This can be applied when addressing complex problems, issues & situations, & for creating robust, provable solutions, resolutions and dissolutions to those problems - supposing such to exist. This book details and explores: (1) the systems approach, using theory and method to reveal systems engineering as applied systems science, bridging the gulf between Problem and Solution Spaces; (2) a 'universal' Systems Methodology (including an extensive view of systems engineering, both soft and hard systems) which encompasses all five stages of Hitchins' 5-layer Systems Engineering Model (artifact, project, enterprise, industry and socio-economy); (3) case studies illustrating how the systems methodology may be used to address a diverse range of situations & 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 & computer engineering.