In this paper, Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), quite a recent development in Systems Engineering, is reviewed briefly. First, a historical background on Systems Engineering that led to the emergence of this area is provided. Here, the limitations of 'Hard' Systems Engineering in dealing with illstructured socioeconomic problems are summarised, and the reasons for SSM becoming a relatively more 'successful' approach are given. The paper is concluded by a review of the SSM Methodology.
Public institutions are getting less of their budgets from their state legislatures in recent times. To find a solution to this problem programs at state institutions have been forced to get funding from alternate sources. This can mean grants from federal or private sources, royalties from patents obtained by the faculty, and gifts from philanthropic foundations. Engineering and engineering technology programs have another source. Due to their close contacts with industry, these departments can work with their industrial supporters to obtain funding from them, both equipment and cash donations. These departments also have many alumni at technical companies, who are very loyal to their alma maters. These alumni are very receptive to appeals from the departments from which they obtained their education, to help these departments in increasing the quality of their programs. In fact, it is more than loyalty that motivates these alumni. If the program from which they came increases in quality and status, this can only result in increasing the value to the alumni's degrees. This paper will show the importance of networking and building relationships to further development activities in an engineering technology department at public institution, so that the department can increase in quality for future graduates. One method that works very well at Texas A&M University is to take prospects and donors to football games! This paper will show the results of what this process can bring about.
During these stressful economic times, institutions of higher learning are getting less of their budgets from gifts, in the case of private institutions, and less from their state legislatures, in the case of public institutions. The solution to this problem is for programs to get funding from alternate sources. Sources can include grants from government and private sources, patent royalties by the faculty, and grants from foundations. Due to their contacts with industry, engineering and engineering technology departments can work with these industries, especially members of their industrial advisory boards, to get both equipment and cash for their programs. These programs also have alums working in industry, who become members of the programs' industrial advisory boards, and want to help out the colleges from which they obtained their degrees. This is to their own enlightened self-interest. If the program from which they got their degrees becomes better, this can only increase the status of their degree. Shown here will be examples of how working with alums' industries can result in major donations.
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