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Dr Mike Ryan and Dr Ian Faulconbridge

"Introduction to Systems Engineering" uses a structured yet flexible approach to provide a holistic, solid foundation to the successful development of complicated systems.

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"Introduction to Systems Engineering" uses a structured yet flexible approach to provide a holistic, solid foundation to the successful development of complicated systems.

The course takes you step by step through the system life cycle, from design to development, production and management. You will learn how the different components of a system interrelate, and how each contributes to a project’s goals and success.

The discipline’s terminology, which can so often confuse the newcomer, is presented in an easily digestible form. Weekly video lectures introduce and synthesise key concepts, which are then reinforced with quizzes and practical exercises to help you measure your learning.

This course welcomes anyone who wants to find out how complex systems can be developed and implemented successfully. It is relevant to anyone in project management, engineering, QA, logistic support, operations, management, maintenance and other work areas. No specific background is required, and we welcome learners with all levels of interest and experience.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Course Welcome & Module 1 (Introduction to Systems and System Life Cycle)
Welcome to 'Introduction to Systems Engineering'! To help you in getting started with this course, we have a course introduction video that will provide you with an overview of the course syllabus.We then begin the course with this introductory module in which we address the nature of systems and the concept of a system life cycle. We identify what is meant when we say that something is a system and we narrow down the very broad definitions to focus on the human-made or modified systems that are our focus in systems engineering. We then look at the broad phases and activities that a system moves through during its life cycle, from early identification of the need for the system, exploration of options, functional design, physical design, detailed design and development, construction and production, utilization and support and then, finally, retirement. To provide greater detail for this module, we recommend (but do not require) that students refer to pages 1-19 of our textbook "Systems Engineering Practice"--see reading on Course Notes and Text Books.
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Systems Engineering and its Relevance and Benefits
In this module, we describe the discipline of systems engineering and outline its relevance and benefits. We introduce what we mean by the ‘systems engineering’ and provide a framework within which we can consider the major processes, activities, and artefacts throughout the remainder of the course. In doing so, it will have become evident to you that the systems engineering approach has a number of advantages, so we then examine in a little more detail the relevance and benefits of systems engineering.To provide greater detail for this module, we recommend (but do not require) that students refer to pages 19-31 of our textbook "Systems Engineering Practice"--see reading on Course Notes and Text Books.
Needs and Requirements
Before we look at the various systems engineering activities in more detail in forthcoming modules, in this module we look at what we mean when we refer to the ‘needs’ and ‘requirements’ for a system. We examine the needs and requirements views developed by business management, business operations, and systems designers. We will also consider in this module how we might go about developing a set of requirements—we call that process ‘requirements engineering’. To provide greater detail for this module, we recommend (but do not require) that students refer to pages 43-54 of our textbook "Systems Engineering Practice"--see reading on Course Notes and Text Books.
Requirements Elicitation and Elaboration
In this module, we explore requirements engineering and the processes by which requirements are elicited and defined formally through a process called elaboration (which involves derivation and decomposition of lower-level requirements from their parent requirements). We also look in this module at some simple requirements engineering tools and illustrate how they might be useful to you. Finally, we examine the notion of traceability, which ensures that we know where each requirement comes from, what requirements are related to it, and what requirements were derived from it. At the end of this module, you should be prepared to attempt the mid-course exam. To provide greater detail for this module, we recommend (but do not require) that students refer to pages 54-73 of our textbook "Systems Engineering Practice"--see reading on Course Notes and Text Books.
Conceptual Design
In this module we examine Conceptual Design, during which we investigate how business needs and requirements and stakeholder needs and requirements are translated into a system-level understanding of the requirements of our system. This understanding will tell us what the system needs to do, how well it needs to perform, and what other systems it needs to interact with in order to meet the stakeholder and business needs and requirements. We then look at the concept of system level synthesis where we make some high-level design decisions before reviewing our work in preparation of the core design effort normally associated with preliminary and detailed design. To provide greater detail for this module, we recommend (but do not require) that students refer to pages 81-130 of our textbook "Systems Engineering Practice"--see reading on Course Notes and Text Books.
Preliminary and Detailed Design
In this module we pick up from where we left off at the end of Conceptual Design and we start to make some more detailed design decisions. During preliminary design, we will look at identifying the various subsystems that will need to come together to form our system. What do these subsystems need to be able to do? How do they need to inter-relate? Can we source these subsystems off the shelf or do they need to be designed from the ground up? These are key questions of preliminary design. For the subsystems that need to be designed or modified, some level of detailed design will be required. We will look at detailed design process and talk about tools like prototyping and how these tools help to refine the detailed design. To provide greater detail for this module, we recommend (but do not require) that students refer to pages 133-190 of our textbook "Systems Engineering Practice"--see reading on Course Notes and Text Books.
Construction, Production, and Utilisation
We now move onto the construction and production of the system based on the detailed design from the previous stage. During construction and production, we look at critical systems engineering activities such as configuration audits and system verification. The system then enters the utilisation phase where we explore how systems engineering may continue to be involved via modification and upgrade projects. We finish this section by looking briefly at some of the issues we face when trying to dispose of or retire systems that are no longer required. To provide greater detail for this module, we recommend (but do not require) that students refer to pages 193-211 of our textbook "Systems Engineering Practice"--see reading on Course Notes and Text Books.
Systems Engineering Management
In this final module, we explore some of the key management issues that systems engineering must address in order to maintain balance and control across the systems engineering effort. We look specifically at issues such as verification and validation management, configuration management, technical risk management and the management of the technical review and audit program. We also explore some of the broad strategies that may be adopted when executing a systems engineering process. Whilst we have used what is generally referred to as a waterfall approach throughout the course to explain systems engineering, in this module we also briefly introduce alternatives such as incremental and evolutionary development. We conclude the module by emphasising the importance of planning throughout the systems engineering program and the development of a governing plan known as the systems engineering management plan or SEMP. To provide greater detail for this module, we recommend (but do not require) that students refer to pages 213-246, 285-294, and 297-309 of our textbook "Systems Engineering Practice"--see reading on Course Notes and Text Books.
Final Exam and Information About Further Study
Having finished the modules, you are now in a position to complete the final exam covering Modules 6 to 9. Before you finish the course we also thought that you may be interested in knowing about the Master of Systems Engineering program offered by UNSW Canberra--all courses can be completed online at any time, and entry is available to those with any undergraduate degree and there are entry pathways available for those without a first degree.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Explores the systems engineering lifecycle, which is standard in industry
Provides a holistic understanding of the development of complex systems
Covers the terminology of systems engineering, which can be confusing for newcomers
No specific background is required, making it accessible to learners with all levels of experience
Relevant to anyone in various work areas, including project management, engineering, and operations

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Reviews summary

Introduction to systems engineering

learners say this course gives an excellent overview of systems engineering with engaging assignments and a practical, real-world example. It covers key concepts, processes, and tools for those new to the discipline or looking for a refresher. The comprehensive material is well-structured and clearly explained by knowledgeable instructors. The course is highly recommended for anyone in project management, engineering, or design.
Thought-provoking and helpful assignments
"This course was very interesting and well organised"
"Well structured. Clear explanations."
"Very well formulated course."
Practical, real-world examples throughout
"I really enjoyed this course! Well-constructed modules, practical applications of knowledge via graded exercises, and helpful feedback."
"Excellent course! Provides good initiation to system engineering."
"Great course with very essential foundation for System engineering."
Well-structured and organized material
"Very neatly organised and gives a broad overview and familiarises the learner with Systems Engineering."
"I was very happy to attend this course. I was introduced to SE and professors were outstanding."
"An excellent course with well developed structures that helped me systematise my knowledge and experience."
Engaging content with practical examples
"Great course with very essential foundation for System engineering."
"Excellent, professionally delivered overview of systems engineering."
Knowledgeable and experienced instructors
"Very nicely formulated course. it has helped gain knowledge about areas I had no idea about. the presentations in this course are simply amazing."
"Well-paced course with a gradual learning slope."
"Working in the aerospace industry, this course has given me a very solid understanding and importance of the different formal reviews that take place."
Peer review system can be inconsistent
"The course was for the most part well set up."
"It would be helpful to provide cheat sheets along with notes to outline the modules and important terms."
"The grading criteria for the reviews are not great."
May be challenging for some, especially early on
"The topics are valuable, but the structure and vocabulary make things challenging for a home learner"
"The course was really great."
"Good material, delivered thoroughly."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Introduction to Systems Engineering with these activities:
Review systems engineering terminology
By reviewing the terminology of systems engineering, you will establish a strong foundation for understanding the concepts of the course.
Browse courses on Systems Engineering
Show steps
  • Review the course syllabus
  • Read the introduction to any recommended textbook
  • Create a glossary of the key terms
  • Take a practice quiz on systems engineering terminology
Review Systems Engineering Practice
By reviewing Systems Engineering Practice, you will gain a deeper understanding of the systems engineering process and its application to real-world projects.
Show steps
  • Read the book's introduction and overview chapters
  • Review the sections relevant to the course material
  • Take notes and highlight key concepts
Complete practice problems
By completing practice problems, you will reinforce your understanding of the systems engineering life cycle.
Show steps
  • Find practice problems on the course website or in the textbook
  • Solve the problems independently
  • Check your answers with the solutions and learn from any mistakes
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Explore online resources
By exploring online resources, you will gain access to additional materials and support that can enhance your understanding of the course material.
Show steps
  • Visit the course website for additional resources
  • Search for online tutorials and videos
  • Join online forums and discussion groups
Attend a study group
By attending a study group, you will have the opportunity to discuss the course material with your peers and receive support from your classmates.
Show steps
  • Find a study group or form your own
  • Meet regularly to discuss the course material
  • Work together on practice problems and projects
Create a project proposal
By creating a project proposal, you will apply the systems engineering process to the development of a real-world project.
Show steps
  • Identify a problem or opportunity
  • Define the project scope and goals
  • Develop a project plan
  • Prepare a budget and timeline
Start a personal project
By starting a personal project, you will have the opportunity to apply the systems engineering process to a project of your own choosing.
Show steps
  • Identify a problem or opportunity
  • Define the project scope and goals
  • Develop a project plan
  • Implement the project
  • Evaluate the project's success

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to Systems Engineering will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Systems Engineer
A Systems Engineer applies engineering principles and technology to the design, development, integration, and management of complex systems. Courses like Introduction to Systems Engineering can help build a foundation for this role by providing an understanding of the systems engineering process, from concept development through deployment and sustainment.
Software Engineer
Software Engineers apply engineering principles and technology to the design, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance of software systems. Courses like Introduction to Systems Engineering can help build a foundation for this role by providing an understanding of the systems engineering process, which can be applied to the development of software systems.
Hardware Engineer
Hardware Engineers apply engineering principles and technology to the design, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance of hardware systems. Courses like Introduction to Systems Engineering can help build a foundation for this role by providing an understanding of the systems engineering process, which can be applied to the development of hardware systems.
Project Manager
Project Managers plan, organize, and manage projects from start to finish. Courses like Introduction to Systems Engineering can help build a foundation for this role by providing an understanding of the systems engineering process, which can be applied to the management of projects.
Systems Analyst
Systems Analysts work with stakeholders to define and document system requirements. Courses like Introduction to Systems Engineering can help build a foundation for this role by providing an understanding of the requirements engineering process, which is an essential part of systems analysis.
Business Analyst
Business Analysts work with stakeholders to define and document business requirements. Courses like Introduction to Systems Engineering can help build a foundation for this role by providing an understanding of the requirements engineering process, which is an essential part of business analysis.
Risk Manager
Risk Managers identify, assess, and manage risks to organizations. Courses like Introduction to Systems Engineering can help build a foundation for this role by providing an understanding of the systems engineering process, which can be applied to the development of risk management programs.
Quality Assurance Manager
Quality Assurance Managers plan and execute quality assurance programs to ensure that products and services meet customer requirements. Courses like Introduction to Systems Engineering can help build a foundation for this role by providing an understanding of the systems engineering process, which can be applied to the development of quality assurance programs.
Configuration Manager
Configuration Managers ensure that products and services are configured correctly and meet customer requirements. Courses like Introduction to Systems Engineering can help build a foundation for this role by providing an understanding of the systems engineering process, which can be applied to the development of configuration management programs.
Technical Writer
Technical Writers create and maintain technical documentation for products and services. Courses like Introduction to Systems Engineering can help build a foundation for this role by providing an understanding of the systems engineering process, which can be applied to the development of technical documentation.
Trainer
Trainers develop and deliver training programs to employees. Courses like Introduction to Systems Engineering can help build a foundation for this role by providing an understanding of the systems engineering process, which can be applied to the development of training programs.
Consultant
Consultants provide advice and guidance to organizations on a variety of topics. Courses like Introduction to Systems Engineering can help build a foundation for this role by providing an understanding of the systems engineering process, which can be applied to the development of consulting services.
Sales Engineer
Sales Engineers work with customers to identify and solve technical problems. Courses like Introduction to Systems Engineering can help build a foundation for this role by providing an understanding of the systems engineering process, which can be applied to the development of sales strategies.
Quality Engineer
Quality Engineers ensure that products and services meet customer requirements. Courses like Introduction to Systems Engineering may be useful by providing an understanding of the systems engineering process, which can be applied to the development of quality assurance programs.
Manufacturing Engineer
Manufacturing Engineers plan and manage the production of products and services. Courses like Introduction to Systems Engineering may be useful by providing an understanding of the systems engineering process, which can be applied to the development of manufacturing processes.

Reading list

We've selected ten books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Introduction to Systems Engineering.
Provides a comprehensive overview of systems engineering, covering the entire system life cycle from concept development through disposal.
Provides a comprehensive and practical guide to systems engineering, covering the entire system life cycle from concept development through disposal.
Provides a comprehensive guide to systems architecture, covering the principles, practices, and tools needed to design and develop complex systems.
Provides a comprehensive overview of systems engineering, covering the entire system life cycle from concept development through disposal.
Provides a comprehensive overview of complex systems engineering, covering the principles, practices, and tools needed to design and develop complex systems.
Provides a comprehensive overview of software systems architecture, covering the principles, practices, and tools needed to design and develop complex software systems.
Provides a comprehensive overview of model-based systems engineering, covering the principles, practices, and tools needed to develop models of complex systems.

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