Systems Thinking and Beyond

Systems Thinking and Beyond

By Dr Joseph KasserBusinessEducationSelf-ImprovementCoursesManagement
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Systems Thinking and Beyond episodes

  • Benchmarking competency models for systems engineers

    The AI team take a deep dive into a 2013 paper whihc introduces a framework for benchmarking competency models used to evaluate systems engineers. The authors highlight the challenges in comparing existing models due to differing competency groupings. They propose a Competency Model Maturity Framework (CMMF) that assesses competency across knowledge, cognitive characteristics, and individual traits. The paper benchmarks nine existing competency models using the CMMF, revealing a common omission related to the implementation domain. The authors suggest the CMMF can also guide the development of new competency models tailored to specific organizational needs. The research concludes with future directions for improving competency assessment in systems engineering.

    The paper (Kasser J.E., Hitchins D.K., Frank M. and Zhao Y.Y., A framework for benchmarking competency assessment models, The Journal of the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE), Volume 16, Number 1, 2013) may be downloaded here.

    14 min
  • Writing good requirements
    The AI team take a deep dive into Dr Kasser’s course focused on writing effective system requirements. The curriculum covers identifying stakeholders, eliciting their needs, converting those needs into well-written and ultimately good requirements, and managing requirements throughout the system development lifecycle. Each module builds upon the previous one, culminating in a comprehensive understanding of requirements engineering best practices. Emphasis is placed on practical application and achieving mastery through exercises designed to reinforce learning at five knowledge levels within Bloom’s taxonomy. … Continue reading →

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    11 min
  • Holistic Thinking and Technology Availability
    The AI team take a deep dive into a technical note that critiques the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) system used by NASA and the DOD for assessing technology maturity, arguing that its focus on early-stage development is insufficient. It proposes a holistic thinking approach, advocating for a Technology Availability Window of Opportunity (TAWOO) that considers the entire technology lifecycle, from conception to obsolescence. The TAWOO incorporates a dynamic TRL (dTRL) to better predict future readiness … Continue reading →

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    16 min
  • Nuclear power and Australia’s energy transition
    The AI team take a deep dive into C.J. Kikkert’s presentation to the Retired Engineers Group in Adelaide, Australia, February 2025. The presentation explores the feasibility of nuclear power within Australia’s energy transition. Kikkert, an electrical engineer with no vested interest in nuclear or renewable industries, analyzes nuclear power’s properties, costs, and timelines, comparing it to variable renewable energy (VRE) sources like solar and wind. The presentation questions nuclear power’s economic viability and its impact on grid … Continue reading →

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    22 min
  • Holistic systems optimization
    The AI team take a deep dive into a paper which proposes a holistic approach to optimizing complex systems by focusing on optimizing interactions between subsystems during the design phase, rather than optimizing individual subsystems afterward. Using a male-female sexual relationship as an initial case study, the author argues that this method yields superior results. The approach is then illustrated through diverse examples, including weapons systems, the Apollo program, and educational settings. The core concept centers on a two-subsystem model … Continue reading →

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    29 min
  • Two major misconceptions of systems thinking exposed
    The AI team does a deep dive into an online presentation made by Dr Joseph Kasser and Bruce Lerner to the British Computer Society (BCS) in 2023. The presentation exposes two common misconceptions about systems thinking.  First, it clarifies the proper application of reductionism, arguing that it’s a valuable analytical tool, not an opposing methodology to systems thinking.  Second, it explains that “open” and “closed” systems are not distinct types but rather different perspectives on … Continue reading →

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    17 min
  • Systems Integration: A Complex Challenge
    The AI team take a deep dive into David Hetherington’s webinar presentation on systems integration made in the INCOSE Sector III Speaker Series in December 2024 – Systems Integration: A Complex Challenge. The presentation details the complexities of integrating multiple systems from various suppliers. He contrasts two organizational types: “Marching Band” (highly structured, predictable) and “Goat Rodeo” (chaotic, unpredictable), offering strategies for success in each. The presentation uses case studies (a jackup rig and an infotainment system) to illustrate common pitfalls like … Continue reading →

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    31 min
  • Luz: From Light to Darkness
    The AI team take a deep dive into the case study on the successful system design process of the LuZ SEGS-1 solar power system’s control and electronics in 1981, using a modified Functions Requirements Answers and Test (FRAT) approach. The author, Joseph Kasser, uses the SEGS-1 project as a case study to illustrate how FRAT facilitates understanding the relationships between system functions, physical decomposition, and requirements. The paper presents several design choices and their rationales, … Continue reading →

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    38 min
  • Which system are we discussing?
    Our AI team take a deep dive into Joseph Kasser and Bruce Lerner’s  pdf handout “Resolving the-8.pdf” for a presentation aimed at a focused discussion in an INCOSE Oak Café meeting in 2024 analyzes the inconsistent definitions of “system” in literature. The authors examine numerous definitions, revealing a lack of consensus stemming from the context-dependent nature of “system”. They propose focusing on the System of Interest (SOI) instead, arguing that this clarifies the ambiguity by specifying the system under … Continue reading →

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    12 min
  • Introducing the balanced classroom
    The AI team take a deep dive into a research paper which explores the design and implementation of a “balanced classroom” approach to systems engineering education. The author, drawing on years of teaching experience and systems engineering principles, argues that traditional lecture-based methods are ineffective and proposes a system that integrates various pedagogical techniques, including flipped classrooms and authentic learning activities. The research investigates the effectiveness of different teaching methods and delivery modes (synchronous/asynchronous), analyzing … Continue reading →

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    16 min

About Systems Thinking and Beyond

From the publisher's feed

The AI team take a deep dive into successful innovative tools, practical and conceptual applications of systems thinking and beyond and systems engineering to various types of problems, summarizing the concepts behind the successes and usually drawing general conclusions for how the concepts may be used in other situations. The opinions expressed by the AI team in each deep dive are their own and have not been edited in any way.