Social Science Solutions for the Systems Engineer: What's Needed. Issue 1 (20th September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dunford, Charlotte; Beasley, Richard; Palmer, Erika
• Is Part Of: INCOSE International Symposium. Volume 31:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: 699
• Page End: 712
• Publication Date: 2021-09-20
• Subjects: Systems engineering -- Congresses; Systems engineering -- Periodicals; 620.0011
• DOI: 10.1002/j.2334-5837.2021.00863.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2334-5837

Abstract

Abstract: There have been many calls for systems engineering to bring the social sciences into systems engineering practice and research, as systems engineers have a host of issues in their practice that could benefit from engaging in a number of social science disciplines. With an organizational case study, this paper describes the problems in systems engineering practices stemming from social systems. Need statements collected from participants highlight what is needed for a social systems primer. The needs can be categorized into three broad themes: (1) A better understanding how social systems are different from technological systems; (2) How, therefore, social science theories and methods can improve our tailoring of systems engineering to different circumstances; and finally (3) how the findings from the social sciences can help engineers, as individuals, be more effective in their work. We discuss these need statements in relation to the development of the Social Systems Primer.