TABLE OF CONTENTS System engineering is an organized method for decomposing a large problem into a series of smaller, hierarchically arranged problems and the integration of the solutions to these smaller problems into a solution for the large problem. The need for this seemingly complex approach has been spawned by the tremendous amount of knowledge available to humanity, the complexity of our problems, and the knowledge limitations of the normal human beings working to solve those problems within an environment of competition and customer cost and schedule constraints.
The need for specialization has exploded in step with the expanding scope of humanity's knowledge, leading, in some companies, to serial work patterns to the detriment of our efficiency. We need to find ways to glue the all-knowing design engineer back together. Figure 8.1-1 illustrates this problem. Many years ago a design engineer could master the complete field of design, at least within one domain. In simpler times, the problems design engineers drew would often surrender to a single engineering discipline (mechanical, electrical, and so on). As specialties grew, as a result of knowledge growth, and each expanded its knowledge base, it became impossible for designers to master their own specialized trade and these others as well. The result has been to create a tremendous communications problem for the design engineer.
We have suggested ways in this...
