What makes a Systems Engineer a Systems Engineer?: A study of intellectual and intuitive requirements.

摘要

The purpose of the research was to explore the intellectual and intuitive requirements of Systems Engineers. The intellectual span of a Systems Engineer is measured by educational level, experience and knowledge of specific Systems Engineering concepts. The intuitive component of a Systems Engineer is the unconscious and rapid processing of information. It involves the perception of information in the form of recognized patterns and the generation of creative ideas and judgments (Vaughn, 1979; Salton, 2000; Fields, 2001).;In a rapidly changing information environment, technical decision makers must accurately and promptly assess the best alternatives among a set of choices (Keller 1987, Karen 2003). This is most apparent during the development of complex mega systems. In the early stages of system development, where variance and risk are highest, there is much discovery needed when system information is incomplete.;The objectives of the research were to empirically measure the following: 1) a Systems Engineers' understanding of underlying Systems Engineering concepts and misconceptions of those concepts, 2) the intuitive information processing styles of Systems Engineers, and 3) the correlation of the performance of systems engineering competencies relative to the concepts and intuitiveness.;The quantitative research methods involved a sample drawn from a population of interdisciplinary Engineers, Systems Engineers, Scientists, and Technical Managers. Sampling of the population was accomplished by survey instruments. Statistical treatment of the data was correlation, regression, and variance analysis.;The research empirically supports that knowledge of Systems Engineering concepts increases intuitive decision making, and that intellectually intuitive Systems Engineers innovate and integrate new knowledge and process information effortlessly and instantaneously.