Systems engineering Lecture 7

LECTURE

7 SYSTEMS
ENGINEERING
- history

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

LECTURE 7 OVERVIEW
Systems Theory and Engineering
History of systems thinking and theory
Founders of Systems Theory
History of systems engineering projects
Organizations in systems theory and
systems engineering

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

ORIGIN OF THE SYSTEMS

THEORY ANCIENT WORLD
Origin in philosophy

Ancient Greece
Aristotle (384-322 BC)
The whole is more than the sum of its parts -Metaphysica

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

ORIGIN OF THE SYSTEMS

THEORY MEDIEVAL TIMES

Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz (1646-1716)

Philosopher, scientist, mathematician
Parent of modern logic and analytic philosophy

Christian Wolff (1679-1754)

Philosopher
demonstrative-deductive, mathematical methods
Follower of Leibniz

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

ORIGIN OF THE SYSTEMS

THEORY MEDIEVAL TIMES
tienne Bonnot de Condillac
philosopher, psychologist, logician, economist
Friend with Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Tract about system (1749 ): ...any system is not anything else
then a distribution of different parts of any art or science with the
known order, where all of these are mutually maintaining and
where concluding parts are resolved by initiatory...

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

ORIGIN OF THE SYSTEMS

THEORY MEDIEVAL TIMES
Johann Heinrich Lambert (1728-1777)
Mathematician, physicist, astronomer, philosopher,
distinguishing subjective from objective appearances
Systems, system attributes efficient, purpose, self-sustaining,
etc.

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

SYSTEM THEORY DURING

INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
Reductionism instead of holistic attitude
Development of economic theories,

http://www.glogster.com/rilexbryne/industrial-revolution/g-6mds4b220k15kdh3jno2ga0?old_view=True

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

SYSTEMS THEORY BACKGROUND

RECENT HISTORY
Beginning of 20th century
Over-specialization of particular scientific subjects
Lack of mutual correspondence and understanding among
scientists not only of the distant, but even the neighbouring
branches of science
Rediscovering basically the same laws and knowledge in distinct
branches of science

Systems Sciences formation using pieces of knowledge from the

fields of biology, physics and social science

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

SYSTEMS THEORY BACKGROUND

RECENT HISTORY
1930s Ludwig von Bertalanffy publishes Organismic system theory
1955 W. Ross Ashby publishes Introduction to Cybernetics
1968 Ludwig von Bertalanffy publishes General System theory:
Foundations, Development, Applications
1960s Charles West Churchman incorporating ethical values into
operating systems
1960s Hermann Haken self-organization of non-equilibrium systems,
development of synergetics
1970-1980s Second-order cybernetics developed by Heinz von Foerster,
Gregory Bateson, Humberto Maturana and others

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

SYSTEMS THEORY BACKGROUND

RECENT HISTORY
1970s Catastrophe theory (Ren Thom, E.C. Zeeman) Dynamical systems
in mathematics.
1970s Russell Lincoln Ackoff how systems thinking relates to human
behaviour, purposeful systems
1977 Ilya Prigogine received the Nobel Prize for his works on self-
organization, conciliating important systems theory concepts with system
thermodynamics.
1980s Robert Rosen developing Complex Systems Biology
1980s Chaos theory David Ruelle, Edward Lorenz, Mitchell Feigenbaum,
Steve Smale, James A. Yorke
1980s Peter Checkland Soft systems methodologies
1986 Context theory, Anthony Wilden
1990 Complex adaptive systems (CAS), John H. Holland, Murray Gell-
Mann, W. Brian Arthur

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

Systems theory founders

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

SYSTEMS THEORY FOUNDERS

Ludwig von Bertalanffy (1901-1972)
Austrian-born biologist
Main founder of the general systems theory
Already in the 1930's Bertalanffy formulated the organismic system
theory (assigns to the biological systems a self-organizational
dynamics)
For this theory developed the kinetic theory of open systems
Later it became the kernel of the GST General systems theory -
methodology that is valid for all sciences
1940's he conducted his theory of open systems from a
thermodynamical point
worked on metabolism, growth, biophysics, and cancer cytology

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

SYSTEMS THEORY FOUNDERS

Ludwig von Bertalanffy (1901-1972) continuation
from the 1950's onwards he shifted his research from the biological
sciences to the methodology of science, the General System Theory
(GST) - new paradigm which should control the model construction
in all the sciences
describes its models in a qualitative and non-formalized language
Deduce universal principles which are valid for systems in general
System as set of interrelated components, a complex entity in space-
time which shows structural similarities
constitutes itself in such a way that the systemic particles maintain
their structure by an assemblage process and tend to restore
themselves after disturbances-analogous to the features of a living
organism

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

SYSTEMS THEORY FOUNDERS

Ludwig von Bertalanffy (1901-1972) continuation
Later his system theoretical approach focused on the modern world
of technology
emphasized in his later works the importance of the symbolic worlds
of culture
themes encompassed theoretical biology, experimental physiology,
theoretical psychology, cancer research, and philosophy and history
of science

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

SYSTEMS THEORY FOUNDERS

Ilya Prigogine (1917-2003)
awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1977 for his contributions
to non-equilibrium thermodynamics, particularly the theory
of dissipative structures
dissipative structures - systems existing and established only on the
basis of a continuous dissipation of matter-energy
provide a better understanding of the role of time in the Physical
Sciences and in Biology
understanding of irreversible processes, particularly in systems far
from equilibrium

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

SYSTEM THEORY FOUNDERS

Anatol Rapoport (1901-2007)
mathematical psychologist
studies in conflict & cooperation, and peace research
application of mathematical methods, first to biology
and later to the social sciences

Kenneth Boulding (1910-1993)

emphasized that human economic and other behaviour is
embedded in a larger interconnected system
emphasized research and development of scientific
understanding of the ecodynamics of the general system to
understand human behaviour and economics

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

SYSTEM THEORY FOUNDERS

Ralph W. Gerard (1900-1974)
neurophysiologist and behavioral scientist
work on the nervous system, nerve metabolism,
psychopharmacology, and biological basis of schizophrenia
referred to scientists as the brain of the social organism, depicting
science as a kind of guidance system
Obtained many honors, e.g. medal from Charles University in
Prague, the Order of the White Lion (4th class) of Czechoslovakia in
1946

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

Systems engineering

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

Systems engineering definitions

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

SYSTEMS ENGINEERING
ACCORDING HALL [1962]
Operates in the space between research and
business, and assumes the attitudes of both.
considers the needs of its customers and determines
how these can be best met
formulates the operational, performance and economic
objectives, and the broad technical plan to be
followed.

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

SYSTEMS ENGINEERING
PROCESS ACCORDING HALL
[1962]
Functions in five phases:
system studies or program planning;
exploratory planning, which includes problem definition,
selecting objectives, systems synthesis, systems analysis,
selecting the best system, and communicating the results;
development planning, which repeats phase 2 in more detail;
studies during development, which includes the development
of parts of the system and the integration and testing of these
parts;
current engineering, which is what takes place while the
system is operational and being refined.

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

SYSTEM ENGINEERING
ACCORDING INCOSE (International
Council on Systems Engineering)
interdisciplinary approach and means to enable the realization of successful
systems.
focuses on defining customer needs and required functionality early in the
development cycle, documenting requirements, then proceeding with design
synthesis and system validation while considering the complete problem:
Operations
Cost & Schedule
Performance
Training & Support
Test
Disposal
Manufacturing
integrates all the disciplines and specialty groups into a team effort forming a
structured development process that proceeds from concept to production to
operation.
considers both the business and the technical needs of all customers with the
goal of providing a quality product that meets the user needs.

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

History of Systems engineering - projects

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

HISTORY OF SYSTEMS
ENGINEERING
Traces of Systems engineering may be found in ancient era

Projects in ancient Egypt, Mezopotamia, Greece, Rome

water distribution systems, irrigation systems
pyramids
Roman road system

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

RECENT HISTORY OF SYSTEMS

ENGINEERING - PROJECTS
The concepts of systems engineering can be traced back within
Bell Labs to early 1900s
The term systems engineering dates back to Bell Telephone
Laboratories in the early 1940s [e.g. Hall, 1962].
British multi-disciplined team formed (1937) to analyze air defense
system
The Department of Defense entered the world of systems
engineering in the late 1940s with the initial development of
missiles and missile-defense systems [Goode and Machol, 1957].
Systems engineering projects during World War II
Number of projects followed

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

HISTORY OF SYSTEMS
ENGINEERING - PROJECTS
Bell Labs supported Nike
development (1945-1953)
Nike - line-of-sight anti-aircraft
missile system

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Nike

SAGE Air Defense system (SAGE - Semi Automatic Ground

Environment (SAGE) air-defense system) defined and managed
by MIT (1951 1980)
ATLAS Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Program managed by
systems contractor Ramo-Wooldridge Corporation (1954 1964)

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

RECENT HISTORY OF SYSTEMS

ENGINEERING - PROJECTS
the Apollo project
Complex engineering systems
Technical and social processes
Incorporating various elements: http://www.nasa.gov/

launch vehicles, various upper stage modules

to accomplish lunar orbit rendezvous, descent
and return from the lunar surface, earth return,
reentry, and recovery, mission and support
crews, missile assembly and checkout
equipment, crew training and many support
organizations and their facilities, such as
downrange tracking and communications relay
stations, mission control

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

RECENT HISTORY OF SYSTEMS

ENGINEERING - FORMALIZING
The success of those millitary systems development programs
proved the value of systems engineering
The United States government formalized systems engineering
and documented it for use it in weapon systems development
The most notable document was the U.S. Department of
Defenses MIL-STD-499 which was released in 1969

Since 1970s boom of systems engineering applications

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

RECENT HISTORY OF SYSTEMS

ENGINEERING - FORMALIZING
Other systems engineering standards and recommendations
followed:
European Cooperation for space standardization, ECSS-E-
10A (April 1996) system Engineering
Electronics Industry Association, EIA-632 (December 1998),
Processes for Engineering a system
IEEE std 1220-1998, standard for Application and
Management of the systems engineering Process
Information Technology Association of America EIA-731-1,
systems engineering Capability Model (August 2002)

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

RECENT HISTORY OF SYSTEMS

ENGINEERING THEORETICAL ISSUES
First attempt to teach systems engineering as we know
it today came in 1950 at MIT by Mr. Gilman, Director of
Systems Engineering at Bell (according Hall [1962] ).
The RAND Corporation (founded in 1946 by the United
States Air Force) created systems analysis, important
part of systems engineering.
Allocation of the systems functions to the physical
elements of the system addressed in the late 1940s
and early 1950s [Fitts, 1951].

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

SYSTEMS ENGINEERING EDUCATION

Today there are many speciliazed study programs,
courses, training for Systems Engineering, both at
universities and private companies, presenting
different attitudes to Systems Engineering.
E.g.
Information systems enginering
Process systems engineering
Industrial systems engineering
Space systems engineering
Computer systems engineering
Etc.

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

International organizations in the systems

theory field

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

SYSTEMS THEORY BACKGROUND

SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS
In 1954 Society for the Advancement of General Systems
Theory founded (in 1956 renamed to Society for General
Systems Research) by the founders of systems theory
biologist Ludwig von Bertalanffy
the economist Kenneth Boulding
the neuroscientist Ralph Gerard
mathematician Anatol Rapoport
In 1988 it was renamed to "International Society for the
Systems Sciences" (ISSS) in 1988 to "reflect its
broadening scope

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY
FOR THE SYSTEMS SCIENCES
Among the first and oldest organizations devoted to
interdisciplinary inquiry into the nature of complex systems
Most broadly inclusive
The initial purpose of the society was "to encourage the
development of theoretical systems which are applicable to
more than one of the traditional departments of knowledge"

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR

THE SYSTEMS SCIENCES - TODAY
Principal aims:
to investigate the isomorphy of concepts, laws, and models in
various fields, and to help in useful transfers from one field to
another;
to encourage the development of adequate theoretical models
in areas which lack them;
to eliminate the duplication of theoretical efforts in different
fields; and
to promote the unity of science through improving the
communication among specialists.
ISSS has expanded its scope beyond purely theoretical and
technical considerations to include the practical application of
systems methodologies to problem solving.

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR

THE SYSTEMS SCIENCES - TODAY
Provides forum where scholars and practitioners from
across the disciplinary spectrum, representing academic,
business, government, and non-profit communities, can
come together to share ideas and learn from one another.
Long history of annual meetings
Next one in Colorado, 2016
Topic: Leadership for Sustainability of Socio-
Ecological Systems

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

TOPICS OF SEVERAL LAST

CONFERENCES
2015: Topic: Governing the Anthropocene: the greatest
challenge for systems thinking in practice?
2013: Topic: Curating the Conditions for a Thrivable
Planet: Systemic Leverage Points for Emerging a
Global Eco-Civilization
2012: Topic: Service Systems, Natural Systems
2011: Topic: All together now working across
disciplines: People, principles and practice

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

ISSS TODAY - SPECIAL

INTEGRATION GROUPS
SIGs:
Agent-based Social Simulation
Balancing Individualism and Collectivism
Critical Systems Theory & Practice
Designing Educational Systems
Evolutionary Development
Health and Systems Thinking
Hierarchy
Human Systems Inquiry
Information Systems Design & Information Technology
ISSS Roundtable
Living Systems Science
Organisational Transformation & Social Change
Research Towards General Theories of Systems
Socio-Ecological Systems
Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague
Systems engineering Lecture 7

ISSS TODAY - SPECIAL

INTEGRATION GROUPS
SIGs:
Spirituality and Systems
Students SIG
Systemic Approaches to Conflict and Crises
Systemic Approaches to Persistent Poverty and Disadvantage
Systems Applications in Business & Industry
Systems Biology and Evolution
Systems and Mental
Systems Modeling & Simulation
Systems Pathology
Relational Science
Service Systems Science
Systems Engineering
Foundations of Information Systems
Monetary Systems
Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague
Systems engineering Lecture 7

ORGANIZATIONS IN SYSTEMS
ENGINEERING
International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE)
Founded in 1990 as the National Concil on Systems Engineering
(NCOSE), renamed to International in 1995
not-for-profit membership organization founded to develop
and disseminate the interdisciplinary principles and practices
that enable the realization of successful systems
Mission - Share, promote and advance the best of systems
engineering from across the globe for the benefit of humanity
and the planet.
Vision - The world's authority on Systems Engineering.

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

ORGANIZATIONS IN SYSTEMS
ENGINEERING
INCOSE Goals
To provide a focal point for dissemination of systems
engineering knowledge.
To promote international collaboration in systems engineering
practice, education, and research.
To assure the establishment of competitive, scaleable
professional standards in the practice of systems engineering.
To improve the professional status of all persons engaged in
the practice of systems engineering.
To encourage governmental and industrial support for
research and educational programs that will improve the
systems engineering process and its practice

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

Thank you for your attention

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague

Systems engineering Lecture 7

REFERENCES
Dennis Buede, The Engineering Design of Systems: Models and Methods, John J. Wiley &Sons.
2000
Tom Weisgerber. History of Systems Engineering. 2011
http://www.kevinkennedyassociates.com/history-of-systems-engineering
http://www.kevinkennedyassociates.com/history-of-systems-engineering
David Beale and Joseph Bonometti. Chapter 2: Systems Engineering (SE) The Systems Design
Process.
http://education.ksc.nasa.gov/esmdspacegrant/LunarRegolithExcavatorCourse/Chapter2.htm
http://www.incose.org/
Hall, Arthur D., A Methodology for Systems Engineering, Van Nostrand, New York, 1962.
Systems theory. In Wikipedia. Retrieved November 20, 2011, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systems_theory
Systems engineering. In Wikipedia. Retrieved November 20, 2011,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systems_engineering
www.isss.org
http://www.isss.org/lumLVB.htm
http://www.isss.org/lumprig.htm
http://www.isss.org/lumrapo.htm

Zuzana Blinov Faculty of Transportation Sciences, CTU in Prague