Measuring Systems Engineering and Design Thinking Attitudes

Abstract

Systems engineering and design thinking have been widely seen as distinctly different processes, systems engineering being more data-driven and analytical, and design thinking being more human- centred and creative. We use the term ‘design thinking’ to encompass the plurality of human-centered design processes that seek to unpack the core values behind design decisions. With the increased awareness that both systems engineering and design thinking need each other, the effects of a possibly persisting distinction on engineers’ attitudes toward these two processes are not well understood. In this paper, we describe the development and validation of a scale for measuring individual attitudes about systems engineering and design thinking. Thematic analysis of engineering and design literature is used to derive a Likert scale reflecting these attitudes. We use exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis to test and confirm this two-factor thematic representation, resulting in a 9-item Systems Engineering and Design Thinking Scale measure of attitudes.

Design thinking: a cognitive resource for improving workforce analytics and training evaluation

“…3.2 Measures 3.2.1 Design thinking and predictive workforce analytics: Scale development and validation 3.2.1.1 Development of initial pool of items and content validation. The literature suggests a couple of instruments measuring DT (Chesson, 2007;Greene et al, 2019). Unfortunately, there are specific issues related to these scales.…”

“…However, this study emphasized the validation of DT in the business context and the unit of analysis also consisted of business professionals. Second, the scales' reliability, convergent validity and discriminant validity were missing, particularly Greene et al (2019) DT attitudes. Third, Chesson's design thinker profile offers a very complex construct structure.…”

System-thinking progress in engineering programs: A case for broadening the roles of students

“…The ability to understand the whole system and see the big picture, understand interconnections, understand synergies, and understand the system from multiple perspectives is one of the cognitive characteristics required of successful systems professionals (Frank, 2010). Although research in engineering system thinking is somewhat limited, it is becoming ever more important as engineering systems become more complex (Greene and Papalambros, 2016).…”

Physical Prototypes to Foster Value Co-creation in Product-Service Systems Conceptual Design: A Case Study in Construction Equipment

“…The use of early prototyping for quick learning circles through trial and error is a recurrent topic in the literature on design thinking [2]. Traditionally design thinking has been related to the human-centered and creative part of the design, slightly in contrast with the established analytical approaches for systems engineering [3]. In addition to this, the digitalization of manufacturing industries is increasingly seen as an opportunity to differentiate and create customer value.…”