Key Concepts in Systems Engineering

These flashcards cover key concepts, definitions, and phases of Systems Engineering based on the lecture notes.

What are the key concepts in Systems Engineering?

Planning, designing, management, and application of scientific principles for benefits to society.

What is a System?

A collection of interrelated objects, rules, or procedures that interact to achieve a certain goal.

What are the attributes of a System?

Physical components, virtual components, interconnections, interdependencies, goals, criteria, condition/performance, and environment.

What are the phases of System Development?

Needs assessment, planning, design, construction, operations, inspection/monitoring, maintenance, and termination.

What is system analysis?

A formal inquiry to help a decision maker identify the best course of action among several alternatives.

What does 'holism' refer to in Systems Engineering?

The effect of two things together is different from the sum of their individual effects.

What is the Pyramid of Outcomes?

A framework representing societal values, purposes, and side effects relating to engineering outcomes.

What should a Performance Measure (PM) be like?

Appropriate, measurable, realistic, unambiguous, and defensible.

What is a stakeholder in the context of Systems Engineering?

Individuals or groups whose needs and concerns drive the goals/objectives of the CE system.

What are the categories of knowledge in Systems Engineering?

Domain knowledge, general knowledge, and system engineering knowledge.

What is Regression Modeling?

A statistical function that estimates the relationships between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables.

What is the difference between continuous and discrete variables?

Continuous variables can take on an infinite range of values, while discrete variables have countable distinct values.

What does calibration refer to in regression analysis?

Determining the best fit line passing through the data.

What is the goal of optimization in Systems Engineering?

To maximize some utility or minimize some disutility.

What is an exact algorithm in optimization?

An algorithm that always gives the real or global optima.

What is a simulation in Numerical Modeling?

An imitative representation of the structure and functioning of a real-world system or process over time.

What is meant by the term 'stochastic'?

Situations where outcomes have certainty other than 0% or 100%.

What is a Monte Carlo simulation?

Simulation that uses random number generation for factors influencing the outcome of a system.

What does a Network in Network Analysis refer to?

A schematic abstraction of a system involving nodes and links.

What is the Traveling Salesman Problem?

A problem that seeks to visit each node at least once while minimizing the total cost of the tour.