Blog Archives

Our AI team takes a deep dive into a presentation made to the INCOSE Chesapeake chapter in July 2022. The presentation/paper explores the creation of a postgraduate systems engineering course designed to cultivate “outstanding” systems engineers. The study employs a systems approach, analyzing various pedagogical methods and identifying key skills and knowledge requirements. It introduces a framework categorizing systems engineers into five types based on their problem-solving abilities and proposes a competency model for assessment. … Continue reading →

The AI team take a deep dive into Barry Richmond’s The ‘Thinking’ in Systems Thinking which introduces seven essential skills for effective systems thinking. The text explains these skills—Dynamic Thinking, System-as-Cause Thinking, Forest Thinking, Operational Thinking, Closed-Loop Thinking, Quantitative Thinking, and Scientific Thinking—providing detailed definitions and examples of each. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of these skills and their application in building and using models to understand complex systems. The book advocates for a holistic approach, moving beyond simplistic cause-and-effect thinking to … Continue reading →

The AI team take a deep dive into Derek K. Hitchins’ book, “Systems Engineering: A 21st Century Systems Methodology.” It comprehensively explores systems engineering principles and their application to diverse fields. The book uses a holistic approach, emphasizing the importance of understanding the interactions between system components and their environment. It covers various methodologies, including the Generic Reference Model (GRM) for system design and the Rigorous Soft Method (RSM) for problem-solving. The text also examines the role of human … Continue reading →

The AI team take a deep dive into a collection of excerpts from a book which centers around holistic and systems thinking as applied to various domains, including systems engineering, problem-solving, and decision-making. Author Joseph E. Kasser’s background in systems engineering and academia informs the text, which explores cognitive processes, communication strategies, and the nature of systems. The material presents numerous tools, techniques, and real-world examples to illustrate concepts such as brainstorming, critical thinking, and innovation. Furthermore, it examines how these … Continue reading →

The AI team take a deep dive into a case study by Niels Malotaux, a project coach, on resolving a significant QA backlog caused by an imbalance between developers and testers. Malotaux implemented “Evolutionary Planning,” a methodology emphasizing iterative planning, continuous improvement (Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle), and proactive developer involvement in testing. This approach drastically reduced the backlog, improved customer satisfaction, and boosted sales. The core of the methodology involves breaking down tasks, estimating effort, identifying bottlenecks, … Continue reading →