This book will change the way you think about problems. It focuses on creating solutions to all sorts of complex problems by taking a practical, problem-solving approach. It discusses not only what needs to be done, but it also provides guidance and examples of how to do it. The book applies systems thinking to systems engineering and introduces several innovative concepts such as direct and indirect stakeholders and the Nine-System Model, which provides the context for the activities performed in the project, along with a framework for successful stakeholder management.
FEATURES
• Treats systems engineering as a problem-solving methodology
• Describes what tools systems engineers use and how they use them in each state of the system lifecycle
• Discusses the perennial problem of poor requirements, defines the grammar and structure of a requirement, and provides a template for a good imperative construction statement and the requirements for writing requirements
• Provides examples of bad and questionable requirements and explains the reasons why they are bad and questionable
• Introduces new concepts such as direct and indirect stakeholders and the Shmemp!
• Includes the Nine-System Model and other unique tools for systems engineering
Joseph Eli Kasser, DSc, has been a practising systems engineer for almost 50 years,
a project manager for more than 35 years and an academic for 20 years. He is a Fellow
of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), a Fellow of the Institution of
Engineers (Singapore), the author of Systemic and Systematic Project Management;
The Systems Thinkers Toolbox: Tools for Managing Complexity; Perceptions of
Systems Engineering; Holistic Thinking: Creating Innovative Solutions to Complex
Problems; A Framework for Understanding Systems Engineering; Applying Total
Quality Management to Systems Engineering, two books on amateur radio and
many International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) symposia and other
conference and journal papers.
He received the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA)
Manned Space Flight Awareness Award (Silver Snoopy) for quality and technical
excellence for performing and directing systems engineering. He holds a Doctor
of Science in Engineering Management from George Washington University. He
is a Certified Manager, a Chartered Engineer in both the UK and Singapore and
holds a Certified Membership of the Association for Learning Technology. He
has been a project manager in Israel and Australia, and performed and directed
systems engineering in the United States, Israel and Australia. He gave up his
positions as a Deputy Director and DSTO Associate Research Professor at the
Systems Engineering and Evaluation Centre at the University of South Australia
in early 2007 to move to the UK to develop the world's first immersion course in
systems engineering as a Leverhulme Visiting Professor at Cranfield University.
He spent 2008-2016 as a Visiting Associate Professor at the National University
of Singapore where he taught and researched the nature of systems engineering,
systems thinking and how to improve the effectiveness of teaching and learning
in postgraduate and continuing education. He is currently based in Adelaide,
Australia. His many awards include:
- National University of Singapore, 2008-2009 Division of Engineering and
Technology Management, Faculty of Engineering Innovative Teaching
Award for the use of magic in class to enrich the student experience.
- Best Paper, Systems Engineering Technical Processes track, at the
16th Annual Symposium of the INCOSE, 2006, and at the 17th Annual
Symposium of the INCOSE, 2007.
- United States Air Force (USAF) Office of Scientific Research Window on
Science program visitor, 2004.
- Inaugural SEEC 'Bust a Gut' Award, SEEC, 2004.
- Employee of the Year, SEEC, 2000.
- Distance Education Fellow, University System of Maryland, 1998-2000.
- Outstanding Paper Presentation, Systems Engineering Management track,
at the 6th Annual Symposium of the INCOSE, 1996.
- Distinguished Service Award, Institute of Certified Professional Managers
(ICPM), 1993.
- Manned Space Flight Awareness Award (Silver Snoopy) for quality and
technical excellence, for performing and directing systems engineering,
NASA, 1991.
- NASSA Goddard Space Flight Center Community Service Award, 1990.
- The E3 award for Excellence, Endurance and Effort, Radio Amateur
Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), 1981, and three subsequent awards for outstanding
performance.
- Letters of commendation and certificates of appreciation from employers
and satisfied customers including the:
- American Radio Relay League (ARRL)
- American Society for Quality (ASQ)
- Association for Quality and Participation (AQP)
- Communications Satellite Corporation (Comsat)
- Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC)
- Defence Materiel Organisation (Australia)
- IET Singapore Network
- Institution of Engineers (Singapore)
- Loral Corporation
- Luz Industries, Israel
- Systems Engineering Society of Australia (SESA)
- United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
- University of South Australia
- University System of Maryland
- Wireless Institute of Australia.
When not writing and lollygagging he provides consulting services and training.
