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 →

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 Dr Kasser’s YouTube presentation which explores the Ten Commandments from a systems thinking perspective. The author questions the exact number of commandments, examining different interpretations of the biblical text in Exodus and Deuteronomy. A structural analysis is performed, breaking down each commandment into its components. Quantitative analysis is also applied, counting the commandments based on various criteria. Ultimately, the paper raises questions about the interpretation and application of the Ten Commandments … Continue reading →

The AI team take a deep dive into a 2013 paper whihc introduces a framework for benchmarking competency models used to evaluate systems engineers. The authors highlight the challenges in comparing existing models due to differing competency groupings. They propose a Competency Model Maturity Framework (CMMF) that assesses competency across knowledge, cognitive characteristics, and individual traits. The paper benchmarks nine existing competency models using the CMMF, revealing a common omission related to the implementation domain. The authors suggest the … Continue reading →