Brings a powerful toolkit to bear on engineering and scientific endeavors. This book describes the fundamental principles of systems science so engineers and other scholars can put them into practical use at work and in their personal lives. Systems science aims to determine systemic similarities among different disciplines and to develop applicable solutions in many fields of inquiry. Systems Science for Engineers and Scholars readers will discover: Ten systems science principles that open engineers’ and scholars’ horizons to practical insights related to their areas of interest A methodology for designing holistic systems that exhibit resilient behavior to overcome systems’ context uncertainties The most critical current dilemma of humankind—the global environment and energy crises, as well as a systemic, no-nonsense action plan to deal with these issues Independent articles describing how engineers and scholars can utilize systems science creatively in (1) engineering and systemic psychology; (2) delivering value and resolving conflicts; (3) multi-objective, multi-agent decision-making; (4) systems engineering using category theory; (5) holistic risk management using systems of systems failures methodology; and (6) systemic accident and mishap analysis Systems Science for Engineers and Scholars contains a broad spectrum of insights as well as an extensive set of examples and graphics that make it ideal for professionals and students interested in a holistic, systems-oriented approach.

Table of Contents:
Preface xiii Acknowledgments xv Part I Facets of Systems Science and Engineering 1 1 Introduction to Systems Science 3 1.1 Foreword 3 1.2 Critical Humanity Challenge 9 1.3 Systems Science in Brief 10 1.4 Early Systems Pioneers 20 1.5 Recommended Books on Systems Science 23 1.6 Systems Science: Criticisms and Responses 24 1.7 Bibliography 28 2 Principles of Systems Science (Part I) 30 2.1 Introduction 30 2.2 Universal Context 31 2.3 Systems Boundary 38 2.4 Systems Hierarchy 43 2.5 Systems Interactions 49 2.6 Systems Change 55 2.7 Bibliography 66 3 Principles of Systems Science (Part II) 68 3.1 Introduction 68 3.2 Systems Input/Output 69 3.3 Systems’ Complexity 75 3.4 Systems Control 91 3.5 Systems Evolution 96 3.6 Systems Emergence 106 3.7 Bibliography 112 4 Systems Thinking 114 4.1 Introduction 114 4.2 Fundamental Concepts of Systems Thinking 115 4.3 The Iceberg Model of Systems Thinking 118 4.4 Exploring Systems Thinking as a System 120 4.5 Barriers to Systems Thinking 121 4.6 Early Systems Thinking Pioneers 124 4.7 Bibliography 125 5 Systems Engineering 127 5.1 Introduction 127 5.2 Philosophy of Engineering 127 5.3 Basic Systems Engineering Concepts 142 5.4 Systems Engineering Deficiencies 148 5.5 Bibliography 162 6 Comparative Analysis - Two Domains 164 6.1 Introduction 164 6.2 A Case for Comparison 165 6.3 Structure and Function of a Computer Hard Drive (CHD) 166 6.4 Functional Correlations between the CHD and the DHD 170 6.5 Conclusions 177 6.6 Acknowledgments 178 6.7 Bibliography 178 Part II Holistic Systems Design 179 7 Holistic Systems Context 181 7.1 Introduction 181 7.2 Rethinking the Context of the System 181 7.3 Components of Systems Context 182 7.4 Bibliography 191 8 Example: UAV System of Interest (SoI) 192 8.1 Introduction 192 8.2 Example: UAV System 193 8.3 Bibliography 203 9 Example: UAV Context (Part I) 204 9.1 Introduction 204 9.2 UAV Context: Natural Systems 205 9.3 UAV Context: Social Systems 209 9.4 UAV Context: Research Systems 210 9.5 UAV Context: Formation Systems 217 9.6 UAV Context: Sustainment Systems 221 9.7 UAV Context: Business Systems 224 9.8 UAV Context: Commercial Systems 227 9.9 Bibliography 235 10 Example: UAV Context (Part II) 236 10.1 Introduction 236 10.2 UAV Context: Financial Systems 237 10.3 UAV Context: Political Systems 241 10.4 UAV Context: Legal Systems 246 10.5 UAV Context: Cultural Systems 248 10.6 UAV Context: Biosphere Systems 256 10.7 Bibliography 258 Part III Global Environment and Energy: Crisis and Action Plan 261 11 Global Environment Crisis 263 11.1 Introduction 263 11.2 Climate Change 267 11.3 Biodiversity Loss 279 11.4 Bibliography 290 12 Systemic Environment Action Plan 292 12.1 Introduction 292 12.2 Sustaining the Earth’s Environment 292 12.3 Sustaining Human Society 304 12.4 Bibliography 316 13 Global Energy Crisis 318 13.1 Introduction 318 13.2 Current Global Energy Status 318 13.3 Energy Return on Investment (EROI) 321 13.4 Renewable Energy 325 13.5 Fossil Fuel Energy 332 13.6 Conventional Fission Reaction Energy 334 13.7 Bibliography 335 14 Systemic Energy Action Plan 337 14.1 The Global Energy Dilemma 337 14.2 Renewable Energy Action Plan 338 14.3 Fossil Fuel Energy Action Plan 339 14.4 Cars and Trucks Action Plan 340 14.5 Fission Reaction Energy Action Plan 341 14.6 Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) Action Plan 341 14.7 Fusion Nuclear Energy Action Plan 347 14.8 Bibliography 354 Part IV More Systems Science for Engineers and Scholars 355 15 Engineering and Systemic Psychology 357 15.1 Introduction 357 15.2 Schema Theory 357 15.3 Cognitive Biases 360 15.4 Systems Failures 363 15.5 Cognitive Debiasing 370 15.6 Bibliography 375 16 Delivering Value and Resolving Conflicts 376 16.1 Introduction 376 16.2 Delivering Systems Value 377 16.3 Conflict Analysis and Resolution 383 16.4 Bibliography 390 17 Multi-objective Multi-agent Decision Making 391 17.1 Introduction 391 17.2 Utility-Based Rewards 392 17.3 Representation of the Decision Process 392 17.4 Key Types of Decision Processes 394 17.5 Example 1: Wolves and Sheep Predation 398 17.6 Example 2: Cooperative Target Observation 402 17.7 Example 3: Seaport Logistics 404 17.8 Bibliography 409 18 Systems Engineering Using Category Theory 410 18.1 Introduction 410 18.2 The Problem of Multidisciplinary, Collaborative Design 411 18.3 Category Theory in Systems Engineering: A Brief Background 413 18.4 Example: Designing an Electric Vehicle 414 18.5 Category Theory (CT) as a System Specification Language 421 18.6 Categorical Multidisciplinary Collaborative Design (C-MCD) 430 18.7 The C-MCD Categories 432 18.8 The Categorical Design Process 444 18.9 Conclusion 446 18.10 Acknowledgment 447 18.11 Bibliography 447 19 Holistic Risk Management Using SOSF Methodology 448 19.1 Introduction 448 19.2 Limitations of Current Risk Management Practices 449 19.3 Features of SOSF 450 19.4 Top-Level SOSF Actions 454 19.5 Example 1: Holistic Risk Management and Failure Classes 456 19.6 Example 2: Synthetic SOSF Risk Management 464 19.7 Description of Typical ACP Systems 469 19.8 Conclusion 470 19.9 Acknowledgment 470 19.10 Bibliography 470 20 Systemic Accidents and Mishaps Analyses 472 20.1 Introduction to Accident Causation Models 472 20.2 Basic Accident, Incidents, and Mishap Concepts 472 20.3 Classification of Accident Causation Models 474 20.4 Systems Theoretic Accident Model and Process (STAMP) 475 20.5 Causal Analysis System Theory (CAST) 480 20.6 CAST Procedure 480 20.7 CAST Example: CH-53 Helicopters Mid-Air Collision 482 20.8 Bibliography 491 Appendix-A: Distinguished Systems Science Researchers 493 Appendix-B: Distinguished Systems Thinking Researchers 496 Appendix-C: Permissions to Use Third-Party Copyright Material 498 Appendix-D: List of Acronyms 515 Index 524