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Collaborative Systems Thinking:
Identifying the enablers and barriers of higher-level systems thinking
in aerospace engineering teams
Caroline Twomey Lamb, PhD in Aero/Astro (expected in 2009)
Committee: Prof. Deborah Nightingale, chair; Prof. Annalisa Weigel; Dr. Donna Rhodes
Biography
Caroline Twomey Lamb is pursuing her doctorate through the MIT Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Caroline received her S.B and S.M from MIT in 2003 and 2005 respectively. Her educational philosophy has been to construct a broad tool box of skills and experiences. Upon graduation, Caroline plan to work in the industry as either a design or test engineer.
© 2008 Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Related Publications
D.H. Rhodes, C.T. Lamb and D.J. Nightingale (2008). “Empirical Research on Systems Thinking and Practice in the Engineering Enterprise”, IEEE International Systems Conference, Montreal, Canada C.T. Lamb and D.H. Rhodes (2008). “Collaborative Systems Thinking Research: Exploring systems thinking
within teams”, INCOSE International Symposium, Utrecht, Netherlands
C.T. Lamb and D.H. Rhodes (2009). “Collaborative Systems Thinking: Case study research investigating enablers of team-level systems thinking” AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, Orlando, Florida
Transactive Memory (Wegner 1985)
1. Transactive memory is a concept that facilitates understanding of group thinking 2. Transactive memory is the combination of
individual memory systems and the communications (or transactions) between individuals
3. Individuals with complementary knowledge synthesize new knowledge by interacting
Transactive Memory (Wegner 1985) 1. Transactive memory is a concept that facilitates understanding of group thinking 2. Transactive memory is the combination of
individual memory systems and the communications (or transactions) between individuals
3. Individuals with complementary knowledge synthesize new knowledge by interacting
Theory
Systems Thinking (Davidz 2006) Systems thinking is utilizing modal
elements to consider the componential, relational, contextual, and dynamic elements of the system
of interest.
Systems Thinking (Davidz 2006) Systems thinking is utilizing modal
elements to consider the
componential, relational, contextual,
and dynamicelements of the system
of interest.
Design Thinking (Dym et al 2005)
1. Design is a social process 2. Designers think and communicate using
design languages (e.g. sketching, modeling, prototyping)
3.Groups utilize divergent and convergent thinking to explore options and choose between alternatives
Design Thinking (Dym et al 2005) 1. Design is a social process 2. Designers think and communicate using
design languages (e.g. sketching, modeling, prototyping)
3.Groups utilize divergent and convergent thinking to explore options and choose between alternatives
Case Study Insights
Research Design
Results
Systems thinking development takes time and experience.
Why then, study team-level systems thinking?
Expected Outcomes
1. An operational definition of collaborative systems thinking
2. Heuristics for enabling collaborative systems thinking
3. Descriptive theory of collaborative systems thinking
4. Data for improving workforce development initiatives
Future Work
1. Tracking members of ‘middle tier’ to measure
effectiveness of participation for systems skill
development
2. Longitudinal study to explore relationships
rls
between final system performance and
and collaborative system thinking in systems
architecture teams
Motivation
Integrated Design Practices: Integrated Product Development (IPD) improves design through early integration of multiple disciplines. IPD is predicated on teams of engineers working closely together on systems-level issues.
Workforce Development: It is hoped that team-level systems thinking will provide the supportive environment and career guidance required to develop good systems thinking engineers.
Demographics: 50% of the aerospace workforce, those with the greatest levels of experience, are eligible to retire by 2013.
Manned Fighter Program Starts by Decade (Murman et al 2002)
Manned Spacecraft Program Starts by Decade (Neal 1995)
Program Trends: The aerospace industry has fewer (larger and longer) programs than 50 years ago. This results in fewer opportunities to gain systems experience. Component Complexity Emergence Interrelationship s Context Wholes
Collaborative systems thinking is a transaction based manifestation of Davidz’s definition of systems thinking. Individuals with unique knowledge synthesize a systems perspective
through interacting as a team.
Time
This research follows grounded theory methods and uses surveys and interviews to collect data on the role of culture, process, and team composition in collaborative systems thinking.
Literature Review Pilot Case Studies
Interviews Analysis & Synthesis Collaborative Systems Thinking Systems Engineering Systems Thinking Good Design Process Design Thinking Culture Organizational Culture Engineering Culture Personality Type Thinking Preferences in Engineering Leadership Teams Team Composition Work Design for Teams Team Cognition Transactive Memory Enablers of Creativity Team Roles Engineering Behaviors Systems Engineering Process
The literature review identified concepts and theories related to collaborative systems thinking.
Pilot interviews were used to validate these initial ideas and directions
Fifteen formal case studies and five abbreviated cases focus are used to collect grounded data. Team Diversity Team Experience Team Environment Strong Team Cognition
Collaborative Systems Thinking
(evaluated through 1stand 3rdperson assessments) Well Designed (and utilized) Technical Process Team-level systems thinking is influenced by team culture and technical process
Team Experience Years
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 <5 5-10 10-15 15-2020-25 25-30 30-35 35-40 >40 Years of Experience Num ber of Ind ivid uals
Team Experience Years
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 N umb er of In div iduals Aircraft (Hardware) Spacecraft (Hardware)
Government Commercial Private
Conceptual Design; Small Program Detailed Design; Large Program Customer Mini Case Average team experience is not an indicator of collaborative systems thinking:
Teams with <7 years of average experience behave similarly to those with >20 years of experience An internally consistent view of decision making is an enabler of collaborative systems thinking
Teams with higher self-reported and observe CST have more consistently shared views of how decision are made
High collaborative systems thinking team members identify themselves as team players who are reliable performers.
Lower systems thinking teams’ members rate themselves relatively higher in detail orientation and coordination Case study sample includes a wide variety of aerospace program types and sizes Systems thinking teams have three tiers 1) Strong systems leadership 2) Developing systems professionals with functional backgrounds 3) Functional specialists Systems thinking teams have three tiers 1) Strong systems leadership 2) Developing systems professionals with functional backgrounds 3) Functional specialists
Systems thinking teams are diverse
• Past experience
• Variety of earned degrees
• Mix of team roles
• Unique outside interests
Team leaders respect the individuality of team members
• Treat each as unique rather than addressing the minimum common abilities
Systems thinking teams are diverse • Past experience
• Variety of earned degrees • Mix of team roles • Unique outside interests
Team leaders respect the individuality of team members
• Treat each as unique rather than addressing the minimum common abilities
Systems and design processes are recognized, but not necessarily used
• Experienced systems professionals rely on
past experience
• Less experienced teams use discussion of
process as means to develop documentation, learn
• Both groups identify with following spirit if
not rule of process
Systems and design processes are recognized, but not necessarily used • Experienced systems professionals rely on
past experience
• Less experienced teams use discussion of process as means to develop documentation, learn
• Both groups identify with following spirit if not rule of process
Understanding team-level systems thinking.
A possible tool for workforce development.
Expected Outcomes and Future Work
Systems thinkingteam members are selected for their social skills as much as their technical skills Strong interpersonal skills Technical excellence Systems awareness / curiosity <5 5-10 10-15 15-20 20-25 25-30 30-35 35-40 >40 Years of Experience N u m b er o f Te a m M e m b ers N um be r of Te a m M e m b e rs
