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 1 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 © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 2 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 © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 3 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 © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 4 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 © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 5 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 © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 6 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 © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 7 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 © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 8 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 © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 9 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 © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 10 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 © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 11 University of South Australia A Few Words About the Systems Engineering and Evaluation Centre © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 12 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. © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 13 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. © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 14 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 © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 15 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 © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 16 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 © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 17 University of South Australia Staff 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 © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 SEEC % 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.4 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.6 1.0 0.2 0.1 1.0 1.0 0.2 1.0 1.0 0.6 18 University of South Australia Adjunct Staff and Associates 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 © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 19 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 © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 20 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 © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 21 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 © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 22 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 © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 23 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 © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 24 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 © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 25 University of South Australia Research Areas SEEC High-Level Systems System Engineering Methodologies Test & Evaluation Enterprise-Level Systems Air Transport Safety © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 26 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. © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 27 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. © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 28 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. © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 29 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. © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 30 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 © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 31 University of South Australia A New Course in Systems Approaches to Large-scale Problem Solving © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 32 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 © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 33 University of South Australia The DSTO Continuing Education Initiative (2) Several streams will be offered initially, eg • • • • • • Science (chemistry, physics, materials) Telecommunications Systems engineering Mathematics Human sciences Operations Analysis DSTO pay all fees © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 34 University of South Australia Example SE Syllabus Group A (Mandatory Core Subjects – Grad Cert) • • • • 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) • • Research Methods in a Multidisciplinary Environment Principles of Test and Evaluation Electives (Select 2) • • • • • • • 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 • Soft Systems Methodology Minor Thesis © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 35 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. © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 36 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 37 University of South Australia SECPS Outline Systems Engineering for Complex Problem Solving - EEET 5107 Systems Engineering and Evaluation Centre University of South Australia Prior week Pre-course Reading – Hitchins World Class Systems Engineering Time Day 1 Schedule and Contents of Notes 0900 Section 1: Welcome and Administration 0930 Section 2: Why we need systems thinking Day 2 Section 6: Overview of Classical Systems Engineering and LifeCycle Models 1000 1030 1100 Refreshments & discourse Section 2: (continued) 1130 Section 3: Introduction to the Tutorial Sessions Refreshments & discourse Section 7: Conceptual Systems Design Day 3 Section 10: Preliminary System Design Section 11: Systems Engineering Management Refreshments & discourse Section 11: (continued). Section 12: System modelling 1200 1230 Section 4: The rise of Systems Thinking 1300 1400 Lunch Section 4: (continued) Section 8: Requirements Engineering & Writing System Specifications Lunch Section 8: (continued) Day 4 Section 15: Soft System Methodology Section 20: Systems Evaluation Techniques Refreshments & discourse Section 16: Case Studies of Organisational Interventions Refreshments & discourse Section 21: Capability Systems Life Cycle Management Section 17: Systems Engineering Specialist Disciplines Section 22: Case Study: ForceLevel Systems Engineering Lunch Section 13: Ideas Generation Refreshments & discourse Section 18: Design Trade-off Analysis Lunch Section 22: (Continued) Section 23: Design Review 1430 1500 1530 Day 5 Refreshments & discourse Section 5: Overview of Systems Methodologies and their Selection Refreshments & discourse Section 9: Tutorial: Requirements Elicitation Refreshments & discourse Section 14: Tutorial: Ideas Generation Section 19: Tutorial: Decision Support Refreshments & discourse Section 23: (continued) 1600 Section 24: Course Wrap-up 1700 File Schedule.doc; 23 September 2002, corrections to hyperlinks 21 October SECPS Schedule © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 38 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 © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 39 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 © SEEC, University of South Australia, 2002 40