Managing and Engineering Complex Technological Systems

Chapter 3.3

The Influence of the Accelerated Progress in the Computing World

3.3.1 “When a Critical Mass of Processes and Methods is Formed, A New Profession is Born”

An Interview with Henry Broodney

One of the dilemmas systems engineers have to face is the question of the reciprocal relations between the systems engineering profession and basic engineering disciplines. After all, at its core, systems engineering is a methodology that ties the different engineering fields together. In order for it to do this successfully, its importance and necessity must be recognized by the engineers in those classical fields.

Technion Prof. Aviv Rosen (see Section 3.4.4) is of the opinion that the fact that systems engineers concern themselves mostly with the links between the components of a system, rather than with its professional engineering level, might be the cause of a rift between them and the engineers in the field. It follows that if systems engineering does not make a real connection between itself and the other engineering fields, it will find it difficult to evolve further. Rosen believes engineers expect to see “the link between systems engineering and physics and mathematics.” One of the main ways to achieve this objective is the development of computerized systems engineering tools. In recent years, computer companies like IBM have begun developing exactly such tools, in collaboration with systems engineers representing the various industries, who help the company by ...