30 Questions
According to ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288 (2023), what is a system element?
A member of a set of elements that constitute a system
In the ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288 (2023) terminology, what does it mean when a system element is regarded as atomic?
It needs only an external view to capture its requirements
What is one of the challenges of system definition, as mentioned in the text?
Defining the level of detail necessary for each system element
How are system elements classified in the ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288 (2023) terminology?
As either atomic or decomposed into further subordinate system elements
What does it mean when a system element is said to require only a black box representation?
Its requirements can be captured without specifying its real-world solution definition
Which of the following is an example of a system element according to the text?
Processes for providing service to users
What is the purpose of defining a hierarchy in a system?
To balance the number of subordinate elements to avoid redundancy
In MBSE, what is considered the most concise description of the system's past history?
The state
What do modes represent in a system?
Distinct operating capabilities of a system
According to control theory, what does a state represent in the evolution of a system?
A set of physical quantities that completely determines the system's past history
What determines the transitioning from one mode to another in a system?
Decisions made by the system, users, or external actors to adapt to new needs or contexts
What are states in the context of a system's attributes?
Measurable attributes used to describe the current configuration
According to the principles of Systems Engineering (SE), which sub-principle focuses on obtaining an understanding of the system?
Sub-Principle 11(c): SE models the system
In Systems Engineering, what does the quality of decision making depend on?
Knowledge of the system and enabling system(s)
According to the principles of Systems Engineering, what is responsible for managing the discipline interactions within the organization?
Sub-Principle 14: SE integrates engineering and scientific disciplines in an effective manner
What forms the basis for Systems Engineering according to Sub-Principle 15(d)?
Sociological basis specific to the organization
In Systems Engineering, what principle emphasizes seeking a best balance of functions and interactions within the system budget and constraints?
Principle 8: SE addresses stakeholder needs
According to the principles of Systems Engineering, when does SE span the entire system life cycle?
When SE supports operations, maintenance, and retirement
What is the difference between complex and complicated systems?
Complex systems have intricate, evolving cause-and-effect relationships, while complicated systems have readily comprehensible relationships between elements.
What are the 14 characteristics of complexity in systems identified by the INCOSE Complexity Primer?
Non-linearity, emergence, and interconnectedness
Why may traditional SE processes for complicated systems not effectively handle complexity?
They lead to unexpected emergent interactions
What are the two types of uncertainty that impact SE?
Technological and organizational uncertainty
Why must SE practitioners be aware of cognitive biases?
To interpret uncertain information accurately
What is the importance of the Complexity Primer according to the text?
It provides valuable guidance on methods for handling complexity in systems engineering
What is the primary cause of cognitive biases in decision-making?
Simplified information processing strategies
How does the aviation industry mitigate cognitive biases in decision-making?
By using the Crew Resource Management (CRM) method
What recommendation does NASA make to warn decision makers of potential failures?
Use Independent Technical Authority (ITA)
How many SE principles are presently documented by INCOSE?
15
According to the text, what is the perfect representation of the system?
The real system
What informs a worldview of the discipline of SE, according to the text?
Various origins such as heuristics, conventions, values, and models
Study Notes
- Cognitive biases are mental errors in judgment under uncertainty caused by simplified information processing strategies (heuristics) (Tversky and Kahneman, 1974).
- Consistently affect individual and team decisions of SE practitioners, leading to incidents, failures, or disasters (McDermott, et al., 2020).
- Listed in Behavioral Decision-Making field, dozens identified including 50 sources (Hallman, 2022).
- Major systems decisions require more formal methods to avoid cognitive biases (Tversky and Kahneman, 1974; Thaler and Sunstein, 2008).
- NASA recommends Independent Technical Authority (ITA) to warn decision makers of potential failures (NASA, 2003).
- Aviation industry uses Crew Resource Management (CRM) method, all crew members warn pilot of imminent danger.
- SE is a young discipline with a set of principles emerging over the past 30 years.
- SE principles are derived from various origins (heuristics, conventions, values, models) and inform a worldview of the discipline.
- INCOSE compiled a set of SE principles, transcending life cycle models, system types, and contexts.
- Principle 1: SE applies to stakeholder needs and context throughout system life cycle.
- Principle 2: SE has a holistic system view, including system elements, interactions, and environment.
- Principle 3: SE is influenced by internal and external resources and contextual factors.
- Principle 4: Proper understanding of policy and law is necessary for effective system implementation.
- Principle 5: The real system is the perfect representation of the system.
- Principle 6: SE focuses on system interactions, stakeholder needs, and operational environment.
- Principle 7: Stakeholder needs can change and must be accounted for over the system life cycle.
- INCOSE documents each principle with description and evidence of its application.
- Presently 15 SE principles and 20 subprinciples.
This quiz covers topics related to system behavior modeling based on triggering events, as well as the handling of complexity in systems engineering. It includes concepts such as mode transitions, system characteristics, and the limitations of traditional systems engineering approaches.
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