Blog Archives

The AAI team take a deep dive into the book “Perceptions of systems engineering” which presents a comprehensive examination of systems engineering, exploring its multifaceted nature. The author, a highly experienced systems engineer, analyzes various perspectives on systems engineering, including the “A” and “B” paradigms, highlighting the importance of holistic thinking and the need for a common vision in project planning. The text also examines different methodologies, tools, and models used in the field, and … Continue reading →

The AI team taxes a deep dive in the book ‘PRINCE2 for Dummies‘. Despite its title, the book is a comprehensive guidebook serving as a practical manual for individuals entering the field of project management. It provides a structured framework for the entire project life cycle, from drafting a business case and project charter to final closure and retrospection. Key instructional areas include building a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), managing resource allocation, and navigating various organizational environments. The authors emphasize the human element by offering strategies … Continue reading →

The AI team takes a deep dive into Prof Joseph Kasser’s draft manuscript which proposes a scientific foundation for systems engineering to resolve the discipline’s long-standing identity crisis and its conflation with management. The framework moves away from defining the field by observed workplace roles (Systems Engineering The Role (SETR) , instead focusing on Systems Engineering The Activity (SETA) as an enabling discipline grounded in objective system science axioms. This structure is organized into a four-layer hierarchy that translates universal … Continue reading →

The AI team take a deep dive into Prof Derek Hitchins’ book “putting systems to work”. The book presents a comprehensive approach to systems engineering, contrasting traditional “closed-system” methodologies with a novel “open-system” framework. The open-system approach emphasizes adaptability, cohesion, and the importance of human elements within systems. The text explores various methods for analyzing and designing complex systems, including soft systems methodology, cognitive mapping, and the use of generic reference models. A core concept … Continue reading →

The AI team takes a deep dive into Dennis Sherwood’s 2007 book Seeing the Forest for the Trees, a manager’s guide to applying systems thinking, which provides managers with a structured framework to navigate and master the inherent complexity of organizational life. By utilizing causal loop diagrams, leaders can visualize the interconnected nature of business problems, moving beyond the linear, isolated perspectives often found in traditional spreadsheets. The text distinguishes between reinforcing loops, which act as engines for exponential growth … Continue reading →