Case Studies in System of Systems, Enterprise Systems, and Complex Systems Engineering - Paperback

by Alex Gorod (Editor), Brian E. White (Editor), Vernon Ireland (Editor)

Suitable as a reference for industry practitioners and as a textbook for classroom use, Case Studies in System of Systems, Enterprise Systems, and Complex Systems Engineering provides a clear understanding of the principles and practice of system of systems engineering (SoSE), enterprise systems engineering (ESE), and complex systems engineering (CSE).

Multiple domain practitioners present and analyze case studies from a range of applications that demonstrate underlying principles and best practices of transdisciplinary systems engineering. A number of the case studies focus on addressing real human needs. Diverse approaches such as use of soft systems skills are illustrated, and other helpful techniques are also provided. The case studies describe, examine, analyze, and assess applications across a range of domains, including:

• Engineering management and systems engineering education
• Information technology business transformation and infrastructure engineering
• Cooperative framework for and cost management in the construction industry
• Supply chain modeling and decision analysis in distribution centers and logistics
• International development assistance in a foreign culture of education
• Value analysis in generating electrical energy through wind power
• Systemic risk and reliability assessment in banking
• Assessing emergencies and reducing errors in hospitals and health care systems
• Information fusion and operational resilience in disaster response systems
• Strategy and investment for capability developments in defense acquisition
• Layered, flexible, and decentralized enterprise architectures in military systems
• Enterprise transformation of the air traffic management and transport network

Supplying you with a better understanding of SoSE, ESE, and CSE concepts and principles, the book highlights best practices and lessons learned as benchmarks that are applicable to other cases. If adopted correctly, the approaches outlined can facilitate significant progress in human affairs.

The study of complex systems is still in its infancy, and it is likely to evolve for decades to come. While this book does not provide all the answers, it does establish a platform, through which analysis and knowledge application can take place and conclusions can be made in order to educate the next generation of systems engineers.

Author Biography

Alex Gorod is the founder and managing member of SystemicNet, LLC in New York and a partner at ITNET Management, LLC. He is also a visiting fellow at the University of Adelaide and adjunct associate professor at Zicklin School of Business, Baruch College/City University of New York. Alex is a recipient of the Fabrycky-Blanchard Award for Excellence in Systems Engineering Research and Robert Crooks Stanley Doctoral Fellowship in Engineering Management. He holds a PhD in engineering management from Stevens Institute of Technology. Brian E. White received his PhD and MS in computer sciences from the University of Wisconsin and his SM and SB in electrical engineering from M.I.T. He served in the US Air Force, and for eight years was at M.I.T. Lincoln Laboratory. For five years, Dr. White was a principal engineering manager at Signatron, Inc. In his 28 years at The MITRE Corporation, he held a variety of senior professional staff and project/resource management positions. He was director of MITRE's Systems Engineering Process Office, 2003-2009. Dr. White retired from MITRE in July 2010 and currently offers a consulting service, CAUSES (Complexity Are Us Systems Engineering Strategies-website: www.cau-ses.net). Professor Vernon Ireland, BE, BA, MEngSc, PhD, FieAust, CPEng, EngExec, is director of project management for the University of Adelaide, offering master's degrees in traditional and complex project management. Previously, he has been corporate development director of Fletcher Challenge Construction, responsible for people and business systems improvement, in the United States, New Zealand, Australia, Pacific, and Asian businesses of the $2 billion parent company. In academia, he was the foundation dean of design, architecture, and building at the University of Technology, Sydney. Professor Ireland has been awarded the Engineer's Australia Medal (2008), the Rotary International G