Systems Engineering in the Fourth Industrial Revolution

3The Importance of Context in Advanced Systems Engineering

Adam D. Williams

Synopsis

Traditionally, systems engineering is predicated on a well‐defined, mutually agreed upon operational environment. This perspective assumes a clear boundary between the interacting set of components of interest, precise definitions of external interfaces, known data limits, and anticipated patterns of use. Yet, the wave of change associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution directly challenges these assumptions on how engineered systems will operate. In this chapter, we describe the traditional view of “context” in systems engineering and identify challenges to this view related to “the Fourth Industrial Revolution”. We then offer insights from systems theory and organization science to address the blurring of the lines between “system” and “environment.” The resulting idea of “context of use,” the interrelated technological, environmental, social, and operational conditions by which system behaviors can be fully understood, is described and situated as an important element of advanced systems engineering. We conclude with a representative context of use example, a discussion of implications, and conclusions.

3.1 Introduction to Context for Advanced Systems Engineering

Systems engineering is predicated on understanding the interactions between components working toward a common goal. Traditionally, this perspective assumes a clear boundary between interacting sets of components, precise definitions ...