Developing systems thinking among engineers: Recent study findings

Kordova, Sigal; Ribnikov, Guy; Frank, Moti

doi:10.1109/syscon.2015.7116728

Cited by 12 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Koral et al [21] identified the factors that influence the development of systems thinking among industrial and systems engineers. In this study, contrasted group validity was determined by comparing the grades of two contrasted groups-industrial and systems engineers and particular engineers such as software and hardware engineers.…”

Section: Validating the Tool -Results Of Recent Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The result of this questionnaire is one of the 16 character archetypes. According to Koral et al [21], 60% of the respondents belong to the STJ (Sensing, Thinking, Judging) group. This finding emphasizes the fact that a large percentage of the engineers belong to particular personality groups with unique traits.…”

Section: Validating the Tool -Results Of Recent Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Four Layers Approach for Developing System Thinking Assessment Tool for Industrial and Systems Engineers

Frank¹,

Kordova²

2015

Ind Eng Manage

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Purpose: This paper deals with four layers approach for developing a tool for assessing engineering systems thinking. Every engineer and, in particular, industrial and systems engineer needs a systems view that enable to perform systems engineering tasks successfully. The paper's purpose is to present a tool for assessing systems thinking of industrial and systems engineers. The tool may be used for industrial and systems engineering workplace selection and development, developing industrial and systems engineering curriculum, education, and training programs, as well as a standard tool for assessing industrial and systems engineers' competencies. Design/methodology/approach: We have to find a way to evaluate a systems view or in other words, a high capacity for engineering systems thinking (CEST) Since there is no known way of directly 'measuring' systems thinking in general and CEST, in particular, an indirect method is needed. This paper proposes an idea for developing an indirect means, i.e. a questionnaire for assessing the CEST of industrial and systems engineers. The idea is composed of four logic layers that will be presented in the paper. Findings and originality/value: Eighty-three, which later aggregated to thirty-four competencies, of successful industrial and systems engineers were identified in a previous study. They can be classified into four categories-ten cognitive competencies, eleven abilities, ten individual traits and three dealing with multidisciplinary knowledge and experience. Thus, the content validity of the proposed tool can be achieved by basing its items on the finding in the latter study. Additional studies were done on systems thinking among industrial and systems engineers and among engineers from various disciplines. One of the findings of a previous study is that in order to be a successful industrial and systems engineer, one must have both a will and interest in being an industrial and systems engineer. The three components discussed heresuccess in an industrial and systems engineering position, interest in industrial and systems engineering positions and CEST-are all interrelated. The will and interest to be an industrial and systems engineer means basically the desire and interest to be involved in job positions that require CEST. In other words, we may hypothesize that there is a high positive correlation between the engineering systems thinking extent (CEST) of an individual and his/her interest in what is required from successful industrial and systems engineers. Research limitations/implications: Owing to time constraints, the research only included a limited sample of industrial and systems engineers. In order to enlarge the external validity of this research, we should ask more subjects from different engineering disciplines and use additional tools such as interviews and observations. Originality/value: The framework of this research is unique in term of its new approach and evaluation processes.

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Section: Validating the Tool -Results Of Recent Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Validating the Tool -Results Of Recent Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Four Layers Approach for Developing System Thinking Assessment Tool for Industrial and Systems Engineers

Frank¹,

Kordova²

2015

Ind Eng Manage

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“…Frank et al [8] define systems thinking as a "major high-order thinking skill that enables individuals' to successfully perform systems engineering tasks" (p. 32) in the development of their Capacity for Engineering Systems Thinking (CEST) instrument. Kordova et al [16] describe systems thinking as a concept that prioritizes understanding of the relationships between components rather than knowledge of the components. These definitions all tie together the common threads of managing interdependence and complex relationships, while describing systems thinking as a skill, valuable for modern professionals.…”

Section: Systems Thinkingmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of Functional Modeling on Engineering Students' Mental Models

Nelson¹

2018 ASEE Annual Conference &Amp; Exposition Proceedings

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Her research area is design cognition including systematic methods and tools for innovative design with a particular focus on concept generation and design-by-analogy. Her research seeks to understand designers' cognitive processes with the goal of creating better tools and approaches to enhance engineering design. She has authored over 100 technical publications including twenty-three journal papers, five book chapters, and she holds two patents.

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“…Students don't have to worry about designing the individual components and can focus on using a systems approach thinking for solving more complex and realistic problems. A systems approach thinking, unlike the computation thinking, focuses on how all the individual components or elements as a whole act together to form a system that achieves a common goal or purpose [6], [7], and [8]. It provides students with a wider view that involves a larger number of interactions from the individual components to influence the overall performance of the system behavior.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…From the research literature one way to develop system thinking is by having students work on practical projects that relates to their studies. In turn, the practical projects provide the opportunity for students to learn about the various characteristics of the system by holding distinct roles within a dynamic group environment [8], and [9]. Both computational and system thinking methods provide complementary frameworks that allow students to decompose a complex design problem into more manageable algorithmic based problems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Robot Racing from Targeted Kit-based Components to a Functional System

Rodríguez

Cook

Farrow

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access Proceedings

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Irvine where he was a National Science Foundation Bridge to the Doctorate Fellow. He completed his master's degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he was a GEM fellow and Graduate Engineering Research Scholar. He also holds a bachelor's degree from University of California San Diego. His interests include robot control, design of mechatronics systems, pneumatic actuation, motion planning and optimal control.

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Developing systems thinking among engineers: Recent study findings

Cited by 12 publications

References 10 publications

Four Layers Approach for Developing System Thinking Assessment Tool for Industrial and Systems Engineers

Four Layers Approach for Developing System Thinking Assessment Tool for Industrial and Systems Engineers

The Impact of Functional Modeling on Engineering Students' Mental Models

Robot Racing from Targeted Kit-based Components to a Functional System

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