Readings in Systems Engineering

In this presentation, I really will be discussing the application of systems engineering to development, and in particular to militar systems development (with which I am most familiar). However, from reading various journals and newspapers, I suspect my remarks are of more general applicability. I have said some of these things before, but some bear repeating and some I hope will spark new ideas. I couple systems engineering, systems analysis and Management (with a capital "M"), because in practice they seem to be closely related terms, referring to the same constellation of systematic practices and attitudes.

• We badly lack: systems engineering of systems engineering; systems analysis of systems analysis.
• And, heaven knows, there is no: management of Management.
• Therefore, I will now preach against home, motherhood and apple pie.

To the charge that I am writing about bad Systems engineering, I can only say that I am taking a pragmatic view: the thing is defined by what is done, not what is said; and if what I am describing is bad systems engineering, I can only say that I seldom see any other kind. What I want to do is discuss briefly a series of antitheses (and perhaps an unbalanced question or two) that pit the systems world against what I be of Management.

• Therefore, I will now preach against home, motherhood and apple pie.

To the charge that I am writing about bad systems engineering, I can only say that I am taking a pragmatic view: the thing is defined by what is done, not what is said; and if what I am describing is bad systems engineering, I can only say that I seldom see any other kind. What I want to do is discuss briefly a series of antitheses (and perhaps an unbalanced question or two) that pit the systems world against what I be