Insight最新文献

A heuristic relates to a formulation based on experts' experience, which draws on observed common patterns and serves as a guide in investigating or solving a problem. A transdisciplinary field, systems engineering involves many useful heuristics, as it integrates the gamut of engineering disciplines in defining a system throughout its lifecycle. To be usable, heuristics should be memorable and pithy, and the consequences of applying them should be predictable. To be predictable, a heuristic should provide insights into how and why it works in a particular context. The first step to increase the capability of systems engineering heuristics was the creation of the I-SHARE–INCOSE Systems Heuristics Application Repository, a curated knowledge base of over 600 systems engineering-related heuristics covering systems engineering competencies, lifecycle stages, expertise, operational domains, system attributes, and more. Here, we describe a process for guiding the systems engineering community on how to validate, test, and assess heuristics, and how the systems engineering community can engage with I-SHARE to benefit from the heuristics in it and collectively improve their capabilities.

A significant challenge to the success of systems engineering solutions is the risk of unintended consequences. This has traditionally been considered to be a real but unactionable requirement. Here, we analyse the notion of unintended consequences and propose an equivalent but actionable requirement, which we relate to the concept of ‘harmony’. The implication of this notion is that in order to assure solution success it has to be architected in concert with considering the structure and dynamics of the system of systems in which it will be deployed. We conducted a study of natural ecosystems as a case study from which we could glean relevant architecting principles. From this we developed a general model of the structure and dynamics of a complex system of systems. From this study and model we distilled a set of general principles for systems architecting. Along the way we introduced a framework for understanding the relationships between the notions elegant, complex, complicated, and simple. We also introduce a new perspective on emergence at the level of parts, supplementing classical notions of emergence at the level of the whole.

A range of experts present a series of short case studies and field examples where elegant solutions emerged to solve complex engineering challenges in network protocols, urban transport, and astrophysics. Their responses illustrate the importance of clarity of purpose and good architecture transforming intricate problem spaces into robust, enduring systems demonstrating that elegance is a core engineering principle, not an afterthought.

This article provides a brief guide addressing the inconsistent use of “complexity” and related terms across different disciplines and situations. Definition variability often leads to miscommunication, even within organizations like the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE). This guide offers practical advice tailored for different audiences on how to effectively use and interpret “complexity” in transdisciplinary contexts. Rather than prescribing a single definition, it promotes a common understanding by illustrating definitional differences and providing techniques to clarify usage. This approach aims to enhance communication, and lay groundwork for a unified scientific basis for “complexity” within systems engineering.

Experts provide their personal perspectives, conceptual frameworks, and behavioral insights that shape how systems engineers approach complex challenges to illuminate how elegance also emerges from how we think, frame, and engage with complexity.

A range of experts provide guidance from foundational theories to emerging perspectives on what materials have helped them understand the field, presenting a curated set of books, papers, frameworks, and conversations that have helped systems engineers deepen their understanding of complexity and refine their ability to recognize—or design—elegant solutions.

Systems engineering has transformed its understanding and management of complexity over the past 25 years. This article traces the evolution by analyzing 121 publications from INCOSE's journal and symposium proceedings between 1997 and 2024 to explore how definitions of complexity have shifted from structural metrics to dynamic, context-dependent phenomena shaped by emergent behaviors, stakeholder diversity, and uncertainty. It highlights key distinctions between complicated and complex systems, emphasizing why this matters in design, risk management, and stakeholder engagement. By embracing ambiguity, iterative learning, and multidisciplinary collaboration, engineers can design systems that are resilient and responsive to disruption. The results also underscore the vital role of human factors, including decision-making, cognition, and organizational behavior. We need a mindset shift: success in modern systems engineering depends not on eliminating complexity but on understanding, navigating, and leveraging it to build sustainable, adaptable systems for a changing world.

A systems governance approach emphasizes a holistic perspective that identifies and navigates the interdependencies and conflicts between security and operational needs. Governance is defined as a collection of metasystems that provide the necessary constraints and processes to support, steer, adapt, transform, and sustain a system (Keating et al. 2022). Utilizing the Cynefin framework, which distinguishes between simple, complicated, complex, and chaotic environments (Snowden and Boone 2007), the article highlights the challenges faced by nuclear power plants in predatory contexts and the importance of integrating security objectives into governance frameworks.

By incorporating security as a fundamental aspect of governance, the article underscores its significance for persistence, adaptation, and transformation in the face of uncertainty. Additionally, it introduces key heuristics of systems security, such as the importance of context, knowledge-based decision-making, and organization-specific sociological factors (Williams and Caskey 2024). Ultimately, this work provides valuable insights into enhancing resilient operations in complex environments by reinforcing the connection between effective governance and security in systems engineering.