Transcript University of South Australia Systems Teaching and Research at the Systems Engineering and Evaluation Centre University of South Australia Prof Stephen Cook Systems Engineering and Evaluation.

University of South Australia
Systems Teaching and Research
at the
Systems Engineering and Evaluation Centre
University of South Australia
Prof Stephen Cook
Systems Engineering and Evaluation Centre (SEEC)
University of South Australia
http://www.seec.unisa.edu.au
© SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002
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University of South Australia
Outline
 The Australian postgraduate educational scene
 About UniSA
 The Australian education system and prevailing
environment
 SEEC
 A new course on systems approaches to largescale problem solving
 Summary
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University of South Australia
The Australian Postgraduate
Educational Scene
 Mass university education (30%)
 Australia has modest R&D base hence modest
demand for postgraduate qualifications
 Management postgraduate qualifications (MBA)
generally more attractive than technical ones
 Exception is government research laboratories
where a PhD is mandatory to rise to senior
positions
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University of South Australia
About UniSA
 Formed in 1990 from the merger of
• SA Institute of Technology
• SA College of Advanced Education
• SA College of Art and Design
 One of three universities in Adelaide and the largest ~ 30,000
students
 Only one active in Systems Engineering in SA
 Focussed on
• educating professionals
• working with industry
• serving the community
 Postgraduates15% of load
 Large numbers of overseas students
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University of South Australia
Location: Adelaide and Whyalla South
Australia
State population 1.5 million, 1.0 million of whom live in the capital Adelaide
University of SA
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University of South Australia
A Long Way from the Nearest Large City (750 km)
Most students go to university in their own city so the range of programs taught is very broad
University of SA
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University of South Australia
The Australian Educational
System - Undergraduate
 Follows the Scottish model
• Many degrees, BA, BSc, etc are three years; most
students leave university at this level
• Only selected students with better than Credit average
are permitted to study for an extra year to gain honours,
BSc(hons), etc
 Engineering is a minimum four year degree and
honours comprises additional workload in final
year for selected students
 Government employers keen on honours, industry
ambivalent
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University of South Australia
The Australian Educational
System - Postgraduate
 Grad Cert (6 months coursework), GradDip (12 months)
 Masters degrees come in two types:
• Coursework with 20-66% research component ~1.5 years
• Research-only 2 years
• Entry to masters: 4-year degree (at honours level or equivalent);
 PhDs in Australia follow the UK tradition
• Nominally 3 years, average 4.5 years
 Low number of eligible PhD students
• Entry requirements:
 First class or upper division second class honours
 Masters
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University of South Australia
Economic Environment
 Undergraduate
• No up-front fees for students
• Higher Education Contribution Scheme debt of around $5000 per year,
plus interest
 Postgraduate coursework
• Now generally attract full fees ($15 - $20k)
• Exception is where a masters is a base qualification to practise a
profession
 Research degrees
• Attract no fees and HECS scholarships are the norm
• High achievers can also win living allowance scholarships for research
degrees ($16-21k tax free)
 Reductions in government funding over the last decade
reduces scope for strategic initiatives
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University of South Australia
Impact on Postgraduate
Coursework
 Recent introduction of full fees for
postgraduate coursework has killed demand
 Small postgraduate numbers in the technical
areas
 Traditional coursework higher degrees
financially unsustainable - many terminated
 Research degrees becoming predominant
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University of South Australia
On a More Positive Note
 Australian Department of Defence has stated that
it aims to have all senior officers educated to
masters level
 Still some demand for coursework degrees:
particularly in industry where research degrees are
not seen as relevant
 Larger companies and government are prepared to
sponsor selected students
 The Defence Science and Technology
Organisation and BAE SYSTEMS are beginning
to sponsor postgraduate programs
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University of South Australia
A Few Words About the
Systems Engineering and
Evaluation Centre
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University of South Australia
What is SEEC?
 One of 17 Supported Research Centres
within the University of South Australia.
 Focuses on research and education in:
• the creation and evaluation of large, engineered
systems
• the organisations that undertake this function.
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University of South Australia
SEEC Mission Statement
 To provide a national and international
focus for collaborative research,
investigative projects and education
programs that address the design, creation,
evolution and evaluation of complex,
systems.
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University of South Australia
What SEEC Core Activities
 Education in Systems Thinking, Systems
Engineering and Test and Evaluation
 Cost-effective, collaborative research between
industry and the university
 Training: public and in-house courses
 Provision of informed advice through
• consultancies
• contract research
• brokering international knowledge and experts
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University of South Australia
History
1989
Measurement &
Instrumentation
Systems Centre
1996
1992
Sensor Science &
Engineering Group
1999
Australian
Centre for
Test and Evaluation
External support
Systems
Engineering
and
Evaluation
Centre
ARDU
ARC
Industry
DSTO
Government organisations
Overseas
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University of South Australia
Where We Focus
Layer 5 Socio-Economic Level
Layer 4 Supply Chain Level
Layer 3 Business Level
SEEC’s Focus
Layer 2 System Level
Layer 1 Product Level
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University of South Australia
Staff
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Prof Stephen Cook – DSTO Professor of Systems Engineering
A/Prof Joe Kasser – DSTO Research Professor
A/Prof Piet Beukman – (coming Jan 2002)
Mr Les Vencel – Principal Consultant
Mr David Harris – Business Man & Senior Research Fellow
Mr Michael Harris – Research and Project Manager
Dr Sarim AL-Zubaidy – Senior Research Fellow
Dr Noel Sproles – Senior Research Fellow
Dr David Cropley – Senior Lecturer
Dr Tim Ferris – Senior Lecturer
Dr Jill Slay – Senior Lecturer
Mr Reuven Greenberg – Visiting Senior Research Fellow
Mr Anthony Pilgrim – Associate Lecturer
Mr William Scott – Research Associate
Mr Paul Bunnik – Research Engineer
Mrs Lyn Bussenschutt – Office Manager
Miss Mel Madex – Administrative Officer
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University of South Australia
Adjunct Staff and Associates
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Prof Peter Sydenham – Professor of Systems Evaluation
Prof Scot Allison
Prof John Andersen
Prof Garth Morgan
Mr Ron Howard
A/Prof Martin Burke
Dr Robert Goodwin
Mr Angus Massie
Dr Les Doherty
Mr Errol Lawson
Mr Bob Taylor
Mr Erik Sherwin
Mr Viv Crouch
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University of South Australia
SEEC is Significant
 15 Academic staff
• plus 13 adjuncts
 60 post-graduate students
• 14 PhD, 8 MEng(res)
• 40 MEng (c/w)
 Around $A1.5 million pa external income
 Close operating links with Defence
 DSTO
 Dept of Defence
 Defence companies
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University of South Australia
SEEC has a Broader Base than
A Typical SE School
 “Typical” SE Centre Focuses on
• Post-graduate education
• Main client base is Defence/Aerospace
• Targets mid-level practitioners
 Teaches methodologies used by clients
 Built around standards (IEEE 1220, EIA 632 etc)
 Aims to produce graduates immediately useful to
clients
• Minimal research
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University of South Australia
SEEC Covers All of That and
More...
 Major focus on Research
• Historically over half p/g awards are by
research
 Primary Research focus on Enterprise-level
systems
• Primarily, social (“soft”) systems
• Focused at highest level
 Force development
 Defence acquisition system
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University of South Australia
and More...
 Strong research into socio-technical systems
which create systems
• Support methods for dispersed SE teams
• Intelligent support for requirements generation
• On-line, intelligent repositories for corporate
SE data
• Environments for force level SE
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University of South Australia
and More...
 New research focus on socio-technical
systems per se
• Aviation Systems Safety
• Generalisation into creation of “super-safe”
socio-technical systems
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University of South Australia
So SEEC is different
 SEEC carries out research in
• Large, social systems which acquire and use
engineering systems
• Operation of systems which integrate people
and technology
• Support tools for the socio-technical systems
which create engineering systems
• Systems evaluation methodologies
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University of South Australia
Research Areas
SEEC
H ig h -L e v e l S y s te m s
S yste m E ng ine e r ing
M e th o d o lo g ie s
T e st & E va lua t io n
E nte rp rise -L e ve l
S yste m s
A ir T ra nsp o rt
S a fe ty
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University of South Australia
Research Topics in Systems
Engineering
• Systems Engineering Education
• Engineering methodologies for the acquisition and
management of Advanced Concept Technology Demonstrator
Facilities
• Tailoring systems engineering models and methods for light
research satellites
• An enhanced systems engineering approach to sensor design
• The integration of COTS software into large research
software systems environment
• A systems approach to audio engineering
• Maintenance database research and life-cycle costing
prediction.
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University of South Australia
Research Topics in Industrial Systems
Engineering Tools and Practice
• Tool integration for dispersed systems engineering design
teams
• Increasing the effectiveness of distributed systems
engineering design teams
• Software Metrics - A tool for improving the software
development process
• The use of High-Level Architecture Simulators in Combat
Systems Engineering
• AI tools for Requirements Elicitation and Management
• The Development of a Capability Maturing Model (CMM)
Assessment Tool.
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University of South Australia
Research Topics in
Enterprise-Level Systems
• Systems approach to Defence strategic planning
• Systems approach to Defence capability development
• Action research within the Australian soldier combat system
enhancement study
• Systems engineering process improvement for an acquisition
organisation
• Achieving systemic information operations for Australian
defence
• Systems approach to Force Structure determination
• Methods for the analysis of enterprise-level systems
architectures
• The benefits of applying systems engineering to Defence
acquisition.
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University of South Australia
Research Topics in Systems Test
and Evaluation
• Test and Evaluation policies and processes for the
Australian Defence Organisation.
• Traceability & cognition of test and evaluation process
documents.
• Structured determination of measures of effectiveness.
• Software aid for automotive testing and evaluation.
• Operational T&E practices for the Royal Australian Air
Force.
• Climatology measurements through GPS occultation.
• Optimal generation of telemetry frame formats for aircraft
testing.
• Correcting delay distortion in asynchronously sampled
flight test telemetry signals.
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University of South Australia
Research Topics in Air
Transport Safety
• Analysis of accident and incident data
• Modelling of the air transport enterprise
• Modelling of the piloting system for commercial
aircraft
• Building knowledge resources in this field
• Verify modelling through interaction with
stakeholders
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University of South Australia
A New Course in Systems
Approaches to Large-scale
Problem Solving
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University of South Australia
The DSTO Continuing
Education Initiative (1)
 DSTO typically recruits
• 50% PhDs
• 50% Honours graduates
 The current environment has led to a 20:80 mix
 Staff are more mobile and leave to burgeoning IT
sector
 Customers are very highly qualified
 Stated aim is to encourage all staff to obtain an
advanced master’s degree which must contain
• Systems engineering for complex problem solving
• Research methods in a multidisciplinary environment
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University of South Australia
The DSTO Continuing
Education Initiative (2)
 Several streams will be offered initially, eg
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Science (chemistry, physics, materials)
Telecommunications
Systems engineering
Mathematics
Human sciences
Operations Analysis
 DSTO pay all fees
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University of South Australia
Example SE Syllabus
 Group A (Mandatory Core Subjects – Grad Cert)
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Systems Engineering for Complex Problem Solving (SECPS)
Systems Engineering Management
Systems Engineering Analysis 1
Systems Engineering Practice 1
 Group B (Core for Grad Dip, MEng)
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Research Methods in a Multidisciplinary Environment
Principles of Test and Evaluation
 Electives (Select 2)
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Management of Small Systems Engineering Design Teams
Advanced Test and Evaluation
Modelling and Simulation for Systems Engineering
Systems Engineering for Mobile Communications
Requirements Engineering
Systems Engineering Practice 2
Systems Engineering Analysis 2
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Soft Systems Methodology
 Minor Thesis
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University of South Australia
SECPS
 Evolved from Principles of Systems Engineering
to:
• Introduce systems concepts to professional staff across
the organisation at all levels of experience.
• Cover systems practice from equipment development
through to organisational interventions.
• Challenge the hard science installed culture of the client
organisation.
• Be suitable for graduates of all disciplines.
• Be acceptable to university departments around
Australia as a component of advanced master’s
programs in disciplines such as mathematics, physics,
information technology, and operational analysis.
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University of South Australia
Course Design Philosophy
 Introduce systems concepts via systems thinking.
 Show that systems thinking can provide valuable
insight into complex entities of many types.
 Show there is a range of systems methodologies
available to cover a range of systems problems.
 Introduce traditional Systems Engineering, the
most prevalent of these.
 Develop some systems engineering skills and
understanding through tutorial work and a major
assignment.
 Promote deep learning and functional knowledge
through a combination of declarative, procedural
and conditional knowledge.
© SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002
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University of South Australia
SECPS Outline
S y stem s E ng ineerin g for C o m p le x P r ob lem S olv in g - E E E T 5 1 0 7
S yste m s E ng ineering a nd E va luat io n C e ntre
U niversit y o f S o uth A ustra lia
P rior week
P re -course R ead in g – H itchin s
W orld C lass S ystem s
E n gin eerin g
T im e
D ay 1
S ch ed u le an d C on tents of N otes
0900
S ection 1: W elcom e and
Adm inistration
0930
S ection 2: W hy w e need system s
thinking
D ay 2
S ection 6: O verview of C lassical
S ystem s E ngineering and Life C ycle M odels
1000
1030
1100
R efreshm ents & discourse
S ection 2: (continued)
1130
S ection 3: Introduction to the
T utorial S essions
R efreshm ents & discourse
S ection 7: C onceptual S ystem s
D esign
D ay 3
S ection 10: P relim inary S ystem
D esign
S ection 11 : S ystem s Engin eering
M anagem ent
R efreshm ents & discourse
S ection 11: (continued).
S ection 12 : S ystem m odelling
1200
1230
S ection 4: The rise of S ystem s
T hinking
1300
1400
L u n ch
S ection 4 : (continued)
S ection 8: R equirem ents
E ngineering & W riting S ystem
S pecifications
L u n ch
S ection 8: (continued)
D ay 4
S ection 15: S oft S ystem
M ethodology
S ection 20: S ystem s E valuation
T echniques
R efreshm ents & discourse
S ection 16 : C ase S tudies of
O rganisational Interventions
R efreshm ents & discourse
S ection 21: C apability S ystem s
Life C ycle M anagem ent
S ection 17: S ystem s Engineering
S pecialist D isciplines
S ection 22 : C ase S tudy: F or ce Level S ystem s E ngineering
L u n ch
S ection 13: Ideas G eneration
R efreshm ents & discourse
S ection 18: D esign Trade -off
Anal ysis
L u n ch
S ection 22 : (C ontinued)
S ection 23 : D esign R eview
1430
1500
1530
D ay 5
R efreshm ents & discourse
S ection 5: O verview of S ystem s
M ethodologies a nd their Selection
R efreshm ents & discourse
S ection 9: Tutorial: R equirem ents
E licitation
R efreshm ents & discourse
S ection 14: T utorial: Ideas
G eneration
S ection 19: T utorial: D ecision
S upport
R efreshm ents & discourse
S ection 23 : (continued)
1600
S ection 24 : C ourse W rap -up
1700
File S ch e du le .d o c; 2 3 Se pte m be r 2 0 0 2 , c orr ec tion s to hy p erli nk s 2 1 O c to b er
SECPS Schedule
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University of South Australia
Feedback To Date
 Taught class of 40 in Adelaide and 10 in
Melbourne
 Age 21 – 60+
 Technical Officers to Senior Research
Scientists
 Generally liked the course, the more senior
people really appreciated the theory-based
approach (F, M and A)
 Awaiting assignments
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University of South Australia
Personal Insights
 Writing this course has broadened my understanding
considerably
 After nearly six years I am beginning to piece together a
systems thinking framework that can underpin both
engineering and management systems approaches
 Systems approaches can also be characterised by their
persistence in the problem domain.
• mainstream management methodology
• intervention
 Still have some way to go to fully appreciate the field and
SEEC would be pleased to work with the international research
community on systems thinking and practice research
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