HW I tro to Systems Thinking and Systems Engineering

What is a system?

A combination of interacting elements organizes to achieve one or more purposes

Is a bicycle a system and name its function and four system elements

Yes, it has wheels, handles, body, and brakes to perform transportation

What is a system element?

A discrete part of a system that can be implemented to fulfill specified requirements

T/F A procedure cannot be a system element

False

T/F humans can be systems elements

True

T/F naturally occurring entities cannot be system elements

False

What is the operating environment or context of a system?

It's the collection of elements that specifically don't belong to the system but interact with it

The functionality of a system is expressed in terms of the…of the system with its operating environment

Interactions

T/F Having a good understanding of the context of a system before design activities start is crucial for developing a successful system

True

List 5 elements of the operating environment of a UTV

Terrain, cargo, weather, driver and passengers, repair shops

T/F when engineers design a system, they have complete control over the operating environment (context) of the system

False

The internal and external views of a system give rise to the concept of a

System boundary

List 3 subsystems of a UTV

Engine, steering, safety

What is a subsystem?

A group of interconnected and interactive parts that performs an important job or task as a component of a larger system

T/F the concept of operating environment cannot be applied to a subsystem

False

3 characteristics of a Systems thinker according to the Waters Foundation

Changes perspective to increase understanding, seeks to understand the big picture, finds where unintended consequences emerge

System thinking is a

Holistic approach to analysis

What is Systems Engineering

An interdisciplinary approach and means to enable the realization of successful systems

A…is a hardware/software component which connects two or more components for the purpose of passing information from one to the other

Interface

T/F There is no need to consider the life cycle of the system of interest during the design of the system

False

Last stage of the life cycle of a system

Retirement and disposal

Legal department

Internal stakeholder

Repair shops

External stakeholder

Suppliers

External stakeholder

Service department

Internal stakeholder

Dealerships

External stakeholder

Five subsystems of pickup truck

Electronics, frame and body, steering, braking, drivetrain

5 interfaces of pickup truck

Touchscreen, digital instruments, steering wheel, column shifter, gauge cluster

5 external stakeholders

Customers, legal department, suppliers, competitors, operators

Customer needs must be identified at…of the product/system development effort

Beginning

T/F Verification is always against the technical specifications

True

T/F The sucess or failure of the product/system, does not affect stakeholders

False

…is always against technical specifications and … is always against real world or customer needs.

Verification, validation

Verification addresses what question

Are you building it (the product/system) right?