Towards a quantitative tool for assessing the capacity for engineering systems thinking

Abstract

To successfully perform systems engineering tasks, the systems engineer needs a systems view or, in other words, a high Capacity for Engineering Systems Thinking (CEST). The main characteristic of CEST is the ability to see the whole picture and identify the system's emergent properties, capabilities, behaviours, and functions without looking inside the system. A tool for quantitatively assessing CEST is currently being developed and the initial framework is presented in this paper. Such a test, when developed and validated, may help organisations better classify engineering graduates, and identify potentially successful systems engineers among their employees. The paper discusses the rationale, principles, uses and stages of development, and presents some items of the tool.