WM950-15 Systems Thinking and Systems Engineering
Introductory description
This module provides an overview of systems thinking and Systems Engineering approaches required to help understand and design complex engineered systems.
Module aims
To establish key principles and methods of systems thinking to help students address complex problems and consider the needs of Enterprises. This will include identifying stakeholders, capturing and managing requirements and translating these into appropriate solutions. Students will be given an appreciation of whole lifecycle views and approaches and selected Systems Engineering management processes essential to deliver successful, complex programmes.
Outline syllabus
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
- Systems thinking and Systems Engineering concepts
- Prioritising goals, stakeholders and requirements
- Designing solutions to meet stakeholder requirements
- System lifecycle and system development lifecycles approaches
- Systems Engineering modelling approaches
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- Critically evaluate the role of systems thinking and Systems Engineering methodology when used to design complex, multi-stakeholder systems
- Explain how Systems Engineering can support the prioritisation of a programme's goals and stakeholders
- Plan effective development, delivery, in-service support and retirement for products and systems using the principles of Systems Engineering
- Evaluate Systems Engineering development processes individually and as part of a group, including requirements management, verification, validation and integration.
Indicative reading list
View reading list on Talis Aspire
Subject specific skills
Systems Thinking, Systems Development Lifecycle Models, Systems Engineering processes, tools and techniques, Requirements Elicitation
Transferable skills
Systems Thinking, Communications, Leadership, Organisation, Teamwork, Team Development, Problem Solving.
Some of the skills developed during this module form part of Warwick University's 12 Core Skills (see https://warwick.ac.uk/services/skills/warwickaward/coreskills/).
Study time
| Type | Required |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 20 sessions of 1 hour (13%) |
| Seminars | 10 sessions of 1 hour (7%) |
| Online learning (independent) | 60 sessions of 1 hour (40%) |
| Assessment | 60 hours (40%) |
| Total | 150 hours |
Private study description
No private study requirements defined for this module.
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Assessment group A3
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written assessment | 60% | 40 hours | Yes (extension) |
|
A written assessment in which a Systems Engineering analysis is conducted for an suitable example system using a range of applicable methods introduced during the module. |
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| Self guided learning assessment | 20% | 12 hours | No |
|
A self-assessment test launched at the beginning of the module which is designed to test the student's grasp of the key principles of Systems Engineering acquired from recommended reading resources and classroom-based learning. This test is normally facilitated via the University VLE (Moodle). |
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| Group Presentation | 20% | 8 hours | No |
|
Tutor-directed and self-guided activities conducted in groups and culminating in a group presentation. The topic of this presentation will be based on certain aspects of the work done |
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Feedback on assessment
Written feedback on the essay, of approximately 300 - 400 words, will be provided 4 weeks after the date of submission. The feedback will be focussed on the strengths and weaknesses of the work with regards to the module learning objectives and the assessment's marking guidelines. Suggestions for improvement will also be provided.
Feedback on the group presentation will be given verbally during the module and supplemented with written comments provided separately.
There is currently no information about the courses for which this module is core or optional.