Joseph Kasser

A framework for benchmarking competency assessment models

This paper discusses the need for competent systems engineers, the differences between nine current ways of assessing competencies competency models and the difficulty of comparing the competency models due to the different ways each model groups the competencies. The paper then introduces a competency model maturity framework CMMF for benchmarking competency models of systems engineers. The paper benchmarks the nine models using the CMMF and a surprising finding was an error of omission in all nine models. The paper shows that the CMMF can also be used as the basis for developing an original model for a specific organization in a specific time and place and concludes with suggestions for future research. ©2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng 15

Applying Holistic Thinking to the Problem of Determining the Future Availability of Technology

Used by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the U.S. Department of Defense, the technology readiness level (TRL) has been found to contain a number of deficiencies which reduce its fitness for purpose. This technical note examines the undesirable situation that created the TRL from the traditional and holistic problem-solving processes. The contribution of this technical note to the problem-solving body of knowledge is that the holistic thinking approach could have produced a more useful conceptual tool than the TRL for determining the future availability of technology; a tool that instead of focusing on the early stages of the technology lifecycle focuses on the whole technology lifecycle from conceptualization to obsolescence.

Simplifying solving complex problems

Perceptions of complexity from the Holistic Thinking Perspectives (HTP) [3] indicate that there is a dichotomy on the subject of how to solve the problems associated with complex systems. While some authors opine the need for new tools and techniques to solve the problems, others show the same problems being remedied successfully. This paper examines the situation, discusses and resolves the dichotomy with reference to the Hitchins-Kasser-Massie Framework (HKMF) and the HTPs. Building on prior work the paper then maps the management of complex problems that seems to work in the real world into a notional process. The paper concludes that (1) complexity can be, and is being, managed successfully if the correct paradigms are applied and (2) the various single-pass processes for solving non-complex systems are subsets of the existing Multiple-Iteration Problem-Solving Process.

Assessing the Capacity for Engineering Systems Thinking (CEST) and Other Competencies of Systems Engineers

This chapter introduces a tool for assessing engineers interest in what is required from successful systems engineers, or in other words, assessing the extent of engineers systems thinking. What is required from successful systems engineers (the characteristics of successful systems engineers) is commonly called competencies of successful systems engineers and much activity to develop systems engineering competency models has been done in recent years. A summary of several systems engineering competency models is presented in the chapter. The competency model that has been used as the underpinning basis for the developing of the assessment tool presented in this chapter is the CEST (Capacity for Engineering Systems Thinking) model. The main reason for choosing this model is presented in the chapter and then the model itself and several principles for assessing engineers systems thinking are presented. Finally, the assessment tool is presented as well as the main methods that have been used for validating the tool.

Wicked problems: Wicked solutions

Wicked Problems are considered impossible to solve using the current problem-solving paradigm. The contribution of this paper is to dissolve the problem of solving Wicked Problems by introducing an alternative paradigm, namely considering Wicked Situations instead of Wicked Problems. This perspective change enables the extremely ill-structured problems in Wicked Situations to be converted to well-structured problems and remedied via iterations of the Multiple-Iteration Problem-Solving Process [1]. The paper ends with a brief discussion on the implications of the paradigm shift to speeding up new product development for complex systems.

The nuts and bolts of systems

This paper fills a gap in the systems engineering and project management education literature by providing examples of: 1. The effect of desired and undesired emergent properties. 2. How the System Lifecycle (SLC) relates to the iterative problem-solving process. 3. The relationship between the “whats” and the “hows” of systems engineering. 4. How subsystem boundaries can change during system design when compensating for undesired emergent properties. 5. How the solution to one problem often creates a subsequent problem. 6. The effect of unanticipated problems on the schedule, usually in the form of the need to insert unplanned work into the schedule resulting in a delay to the project.