Scribd
Upload
0 views

In-Class Tutorial [Lecture week one]

The document outlines foundational knowledge on systems engineering, distinguishing between systems engineering and engineering systems, as well as technical and management systems engineering. It discusses the differences between soft and hard systems modeling, the roles of systems engineers in project development, and the relationship between systems and projects. Additionally, it explores concepts such as functional and physical elements, modularity in systems, and the implications of human influence on natural systems.

Uploaded by

leparisshop20
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
0 views

In-Class Tutorial [Lecture week one]

The document outlines foundational knowledge on systems engineering, distinguishing between systems engineering and engineering systems, as well as technical and management systems engineering. It discusses the differences between soft and hard systems modeling, the roles of systems engineers in project development, and the relationship between systems and projects. Additionally, it explores concepts such as functional and physical elements, modularity in systems, and the implications of human influence on natural systems.

Uploaded by

leparisshop20
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

In-Class Tutorial Exercise

Foundational Knowledge on Systems Engineering


Slide 11
How does systems engineering differ from engineering systems?
The significant difference lies in the application domain. While systems
engineering is concerned with proffering solutions to complex organized
systems, engineering systems is focused at providing solutions to complex
awkward and extreme environments e.g. under sea environment, space and
planetary research etc

Slide 22
Management systems engineering subsumes technical systems
engineering. True or false? Why?

True

What’s the basic difference between technical and management process


systems engineering?
Technical systems engineering is a specialisation that involves addressing the
core of a project i.e. its capability or functional related issues. Management
systems engineering is a specialisation that controls when, how and to what
degree a particular technical effort must be applied in addressing a given
problem

Slides 23-25
How does soft systems modelling differ from hard systems modelling?

Soft systems modelling is often premised on the rule of thumb, human


judgemental sense, intuitive reasoning etc. They are often premised on a high
degree of flexibility. They may or may not be developed using established
traditional scientific and engineering rigid rules.

When the traffic police by-passes the traffic light to effect manual
control of traffic flow due to peak period hiccups, which between hard
and soft systems is being practiced and why?

Soft systems

If I need to assist you based on your emotions while presenting your case
without necessarily keeping to the established rules, which between hard
and soft systems is in play and why?

Soft systems

Slides 29-31
Migration from component level thinking to System level thinking by a
systems engineer can be interpreted to mean that a:
Systems engineering is focused at a system as a whole with emphasis on its
total operation.

While a traditional engineer is primarily trained to focus more on hard


issues such as engineering design, the systems engineer is trained to
focus on both the hard and soft issues such as:

Customer’s needs, operating environment, interfacing systems, logistics and


capability of the system’s operators amongst others.

Slide 32
“Taking the lead of the formative (concept development) stage of a new
system development”. This statement means that:
a. The systems engineer is responsible for leading the design of a new project
at the formative stages.
b. The systems engineer is responsible for guiding the design of a new project
at the formative stages.
c. The systems engineer is responsible for engineering the design of a new
project at the formative stages.
d. All of the options.

The statement: “Systems engineering is an integral part of Project


Management (pre-development and post development phases)” means
that:
a. systems engineering is contained in project management
b. systems engineering exist along-side project management
c. systems engineering deliverables are useful for project management
d. systems engineering deliverables can function along-side project
management deliverables

Slide 33
Systemation is same as one of the following:
a. Systems Architecture
b. Technical Coordination
c. Systems Integration
d. Systems thinking
What is systems architecting?
a. It is an act of systemating amongst the interconnected elements of a system
b. It is an act of designing concepts and functions for the elements of a system
c. It is an act of establishing a prioritised hierarchy amongst the
interconnected elements of a system
d. It is an act of designing a system and decorating the different elements or
organs of the system

Task definition is common to both the systems engineer and the


project planning and control manager. This is so because:
a. Task definition is almost equal for both parties
b. Task definition is equal for both parties
c. Task definition is alternated by both parties
d. Task definition is required by both parties

Which of the following is correct for the task of a systems engineer?


a. “Taking the lead on design activities at the formative phase of a new system
development and its life cycle management”.
b. “Taking the lead on design activities after the formative phase of a new
system development and its life cycle management”.
c. “Not taking the lead on design activities at the formative phase of a new
system development and its life cycle management”.
d. “Taking the lead for design activities at the formative phase of a new system
development excluding its life cycle management”.

Foundational Knowledge on Systems

Slide 7
Is a system a project? Or is a project a system?
A system ideally is not a project and a project ideally is not a system.

By definition: A project is a system in the making i.e. a set of interrelated


activities that must be executed at a predefined time towards the
accomplishment of a final goal. A system is a set of interrelated components
or elements working together towards a common goal.

Which between a system and a project precedes in the development


cycle?
A project comes first i.e. a project precedes while a system succeeds.

Slide 8
When can humans be referred to as “a project” and when can they be
referred to as “a system”? Motivate your answer
Pre-birth (formation period)—a project and
pre-birth (development period) to post-birth (development period) ---a system

Slide 29
Where can the dividing line be drawn amongst a simple system, a semi
simple system and a complex system?

Slides 32-37
Are humans engineered systems?

When are “natural systems” referred to as “modified systems”? Is it


when they are directly tampered with by humans or when they change
as a result of human activities in the environment?
Can be subjective. However, to be safe and minimise complexity, the solution
can be limited to direct purposeful influence of humans on natural systems.
Do not forget that some assumed “natural systems” might have originated as
a result of human activities over the years.

Are all man-made systems engineered systems?


No. E.g. a refuse dump site, a pile-up store room etc

Slides 39-40
Can virtual and real systems co-exist?

What are the conditions that defines a real system?


A system is real when it is physically visible and can be felt except for extreme
conditions associated with such a system.

Slides 42-43
Which is the direction of stability growth between a highly modularised
system (A) and a poorly modularised system (B)? Is it

Is a highly modularised system more stable than a poorly modularised


system or vice-versa? Brief motivation required.

Can the number of modules of a system increase over time? Yes or No


and why? Brief motivation required.
Yes! The number of modules of a system can change (increase/decrease) over
time if the system is modified.

Slides 44-61
What are functional elements?
These are capabilities that a system must exhibit to achieve the operational
needs.

What are physical elements?


These are embodiments referred to as components/sub-components and
parts needed to actualise the desired functions in a system.

The structure of a system is characterised by all of the following except


a. data
b. signal
c. energy
d. power

Which of the following is odd in the list below?


a. receive data
b. transmit data
c. data processor
d. process signal

In an architectural framework, the phrase “electronic device” is best


fitted to which level?
a. sub-system level
b. system level
c. functional level
d. component level

Functions are normally represented on the architectural framework with


the use of (verb phrases) action words.
a. false
b. true
c. not always the case
d. none of the options

As a curriculum development consultant for higher institutions of


learning in South Africa, how can the concept of functional and physical
building blocks be used to aid your job of curriculum development?

[Show your architectural diagram]

You might also like