Block 2 - lecture 1

Question 1

COTS?

Answer 1

Commercial of the shelf

Question 2

Challenges in engineering systems?

Answer 2

• constantly changing requirements
• more complexity
• longer system life-cycle
• shorter tech life-cycle
• more COTS
• more globalisation
• more international competition
• more outsourcing
• skills shortage
• higher overall costs

Question 3

Stakeholders?

Answer 3

anyone (group, system or organisation) that has an interest in the outcome of the project

Question 4

Why more upfront work earlier in the project saves money?

Answer 4

much cheaper and quicker to make changes

Question 5

‘Hard’ systems approach?

Answer 5

• well defined problem
• technical
• optimal solution
• can use decomposition

Question 6

What parts of a system should system engineering be applied?

Answer 6

the product/system AND the life-cycle

also management, social, political, technical, quality..

Question 7

Parts of the life-cycle?

What should systems engineering be used for?

Answer 7

• Designed for the customer
• Built cost effectively
• Operated safely
• Retired cost-effectively

Question 8

Risks of innovating advanced new tech and the risks of avoiding it?

Answer 8

new materials/devices/automation = uncertainty

inferior products = poor sales = obsolescence

Question 9

Impacts of decomposition?

Answer 9

decomposition leads to increased specialisation (more knowledge of particular components rather than the whole system)

Specialisation effects education, training and experience

Question 10

How autonomy of a subsystem can affect the overall system?

Answer 10

allows it to be more self contained, simplifying its interactions at its interfaces