Engineering Systems
| Module title | Engineering Systems |
|---|---|
| Module code | ENE2013 |
| Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 12 |
Module description
This module will develop your understanding of the nature of complex systems and how they can be designed and managed. You will appreciate how concepts can be applied to any engineering context, either as designers, managers or operators. The module will consider physical, political and societal dimensions and provide you with a greater understanding of the inter-connectedness of complex engineered systems and the environment in which they operate.
You will develop an understanding of the Systems Engineering process, general principles of system design (requirements and specification) and system development, core principles of systems thinking and the use of tools for modelling system functions and interactions.
Module aims - intentions of the module
•Understand and apply the principles of Systems Thinking to analyse both the physical, political, and societal dimensions of complex systems, along with the relationship between the system and the environment in which it operates.
•Describe the Systems Engineering lifecycle processes, from the initial capture of stakeholder needs through development to system deployment and validation.
•Define the Systems Engineering lifecycle and its adaptation to meet specific project challenges and constrains.
•Recognise the challenges associated with through-life system sustainment, including maintenance, performance monitoring, system upgrades and retirement.
•Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge
•Plan Systems Engineering activities and apply the concepts of Systems Thinking to engineering contexts.
•Identify needs and derive requirements through engaging with system and project stakeholders.
•Develop physical and functional system architectures, and plan system verification activities.
•Manage supplier relationships, including requirements flow-down and acceptance processes, to ensure compliance with system specifications.
INCOSE learning outcomes
•Definitions:Identify systems engineering definitions, principles, and concepts
•Systems Thinking:Define awareness level concepts of systems thinking
•Lifecycles:Define awareness level concepts for lifecycles
•Acquisition/ Supply:Define awareness level concepts of acquisition and supply
•Planning:Define awareness level concepts of planning
•Decision Management:Define awareness level concepts of decision management
•Configuration Management:Define awareness level concepts of configuration management
•Information Management:Define awareness level concepts of information management
•Requirements:Define awareness level concepts of requirements definition
•Architecture:Define awareness level concepts of architecture definition
•Design:Define awareness level concepts of design for system realization
•Modelling / Analysis:Define awareness level concepts of modelling and analysis
•Integration:Define awareness level concepts of integration
•Verification:Define awareness level concepts for verification
•Transition:Define awareness level concepts for transition
•Validation:Define awareness level concepts for validation
•Operation/ Support:Define awareness level concepts for operation and support
•Quality Characteristics:Define awareness level concepts of design for quality characteristics
•Interfaces:Define awareness level concepts for interfaces
•Application Considerations:Define how systems engineering is applied
SE in Practice:Identify aspects of systems engineering in practice
· Understand and apply the principles of Systems Thinking to analyse both the physical, political, and societal dimensions of complex systems, along with the relationship between the system and the environment in which it operates.
· Describe the Systems Engineering lifecycle processes, from the initial capture of stakeholder needs through development to system deployment and validation.
· Define the Systems Engineering lifecycle and its adaptation to meet specific project challenges and constrains.
· Recognise the challenges associated with through-life system sustainment, including maintenance, performance monitoring, system upgrades and retirement.
· Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge
· Plan Systems Engineering activities and apply the concepts of Systems Thinking to engineering contexts.
· Identify needs and derive requirements through engaging with system and project stakeholders.
· Develop physical and functional system architectures, and plan system verification activities.
· Manage supplier relationships, including requirements flow-down and acceptance processes, to ensure compliance with system specifications.
INCOSE learning outcomes[JG1] [SH2]
· Definitions:Identify systems engineering definitions, principles, and concepts
· Systems Thinking: Define awareness level concepts of systems thinking
· Lifecycles: Define awareness level concepts for lifecycles
· Acquisition/ Supply:Define awareness level concepts of acquisition and supply
· Planning: Define awareness level concepts of planning
· Decision Management: Define awareness level concepts of decision management
· Configuration Management:Define awareness level concepts of configuration management
· Information Management: Define awareness level concepts of information management
· Requirements: Define awareness level concepts of requirements definition
· Architecture: Define awareness level concepts of architecture definition
· Design: Define awareness level concepts of design for system realization
· Modelling / Analysis: Define awareness level concepts of modelling and analysis
· Integration:Define awareness level concepts of integration
· Verification:Define awareness level concepts for verification
· Transition: Define awareness level concepts for transition
· Validation: Define awareness level concepts for validation
· Operation/ Support:Define awareness level concepts for operation and support
· Quality Characteristics: Define awareness level concepts of design for quality characteristics
· Interfaces: Define awareness level concepts for interfaces
· Application Considerations:Define how systems engineering is applied
SE in Practice: Identify aspects of systems engineering in practice
[JG1]This list seems highly repetitive. Is this level of detail necessary?
[SH2]INCOSE is a recognised Systems qualification so we have included the wording hear to demonstrate how the module fits these requirements
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Design solutions for broadly-defined problems that meet a combination of societal, user, business and customer needs as appropriate (B5)
- 2. Apply an integrated or systems approach to the solution of broadly-defined problems (B6)
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Select and evaluate technical literature and other sources of information to address broadly-defined problems (B4)
- 4. Evaluate the environmental and societal impact of solutions to broadly-defined problems (B7)
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Recognise the need for quality management systems and continuous improvement in the context of broadly-defined problems (B14)
Syllabus plan
Whilst the precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover all or some of the following topics:
- Systems Thinking and modelling approaches: Systems Thinking, Soft-Systems Methodology (SSM), system modelling techniques (inc. Unified Modelling Language (UML), Systems Modelling Language (SysML), …).
- Managing the system life cycle (basic): Overview of life cycle models (V-model, waterfall/sequential, iterative/evolutionary, incremental, Agile, Spiral), design maturity, assurance (design reviews, …), life cycle sustainability assessment, configuration management, information management.
- System life cycle processes and tailoring: Stakeholder needs, system requirements definition, system architecture definition, design definition, systems analysis, implementation, integration, verification, transition, validation, operation, maintenance, disposal.
- Requirements management: functional/non-functional, allocation, derivation, success criteria and test methods, tools (DOORS, …).
- System Design: Functional decomposition, functional flow diagrams, design synthesis, integrated/modular design, interface management.
- Specialty Engineering: Performance modelling and analysis, Reliability Availability Maintainability (RAM), safety and security, Quality Assurance, Human Factors, sustainability, operability, ...
- Effective decision making: Trade Studies (e.g. COTS/proprietary, Closed/Open architectures), decision matrices, multi-criteria analysis, sensitivity analysis.
- Through life capability management: Understanding capability, Measures of Effectiveness (MOEs), maintenance (preventative, corrective, predictive), capability upgrade, obsolescence management.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | 110 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities | 36 | Lectures |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities | 4 | Seminars |
| Guided Independent Study | 110 | Reflection on learning and teaching activities, preparation for assessments, further reading |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coursework | 50 | 3000 words (or equivalent) including a critical appraisal of and reflection about methods and approaches | 1-5 | |
| Exam | 50 | 2 hours | 1-4 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Coursework (3000 words, 50%) | 1-5 | Referral/deferral period |
| Exam | Exam (2 hours, 50%) | 1-4 | Referral/deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Referred and deferred assignments will mirror the original modes of assessment.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
• Kossiakoff, A., Seymour, S. J., Flanigan, D. A., & Biemer, S. M. (2020). Systems Engineering Principles and Practice (3rd Edition) (Third edition). John Wiley & Sons.
• Holt, J., & Weilkiens, T. (2023). Systems engineering demystified: apply modern, model-based systems engineering techniques to build complex systems (Second edition.). Packt Publishing Ltd.
• INCOSE. (2023). INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook (5th ed.). Wiley.
Jackson, S., & Moraes, R. (2024). Systems Theory and Application: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach (1st ed., Vol. 1). CRC Press.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
• ELE
Indicative learning resources - Other resources
• 15288-2023 - ISO/IEC/IEEE International Standard - Systems and software engineering--System life cycle processes. (2023). IEEE.
• 24748-1-2024 - ISO/IEC/IEEE International Standard - Systems and software engineering--Life cycle management--Part 1: Guidelines for the application of ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288 (System life cycle processes) - Redline. (2024). IEEE.
• 24748-2-2024 - ISO/IEC/IEEE International Standard - Systems and software engineering--Life cycle management--Part 2: Guidelines for the application of ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288 (System life cycle processes) - Redline. (2024). IEEE.
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 5 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 01/11/2025 |
| Last revision date | 12/08/2025 |
