Blog Archives

This podcast takes a deep dive into a case study presented online to a Serverless Toronto meeting on September 16, 2024. The autobiographical details Dr Kasser’s application of systems thinking to improve postgraduate systems and software engineering education. He describes eight systems thinking tools he developed and employed to address challenges in curriculum design and delivery, including benchmarking other universities’ programs. The case study tracks his iterative approach, evolving from traditional lectures to blended and … Continue reading →

The AI team take a deep dive into Halls’ (mostly) forgotten classic 1962 book on systems engineering which details a methodology for designing complex systems. The book emphasizes a multi-stage process encompassing needs research, environmental analysis, system synthesis, and evaluation, incorporating economic and social factors. The text highlights the contributions of various individuals and organizations to the development of the methodology, particularly within Bell Telephone Laboratories. Furthermore, it explores the importance of planning, decision-making under … Continue reading →

The AI team take a deep dive into a systems thinking workshop designed to equip individuals with methods and tools for managing complex systems effectively. This hands-on virtual workshop utilizes a unique format involving pre-recorded lectures and live sessions focused on discussing participant exercises. This innovative approach is rooted in prior work, including the balanced classroom pedagogy which advocates for blending various teaching techniques, and the Evercourse lifelong learning model that emphasizes self-paced learning and interactive live sessions. These related concepts aim to enhance learning … Continue reading →

Our AI team takes a deep dive into a presentation which recounts Dr. Joseph Kasser’s 50-year journey developing software for amateur radio using systems thinking. He details the evolution of the hobby, from its early inventive days with no commercial components to the incorporation of microcomputers and the internet. Key projects are highlighted, including contest automation software, satellite telemetry decoding programs, and advancements in digital communication modes. Challenges encountered, such as interface standardization and the need for robust … Continue reading →

The AI team take a deep dive into Analysis of Alternatives (AoA), a method for making informed resource allocation decisions, used particularly within government agencies like the OMB and DoD. It outlines four maturity levels of AoA, ranging from justifying a single alternative (Level 0) to a robust multi-dimensional analysis incorporating uncertainty (Level 3). The author critiques existing OMB (Level 1) and DoD (Level 2) approaches, advocating for a Level 3 approach that integrates a … Continue reading →