SYSTEMS FOR ALL
by Agnes Kaposi (Kaposi Associates, London) & Margaret Myers (The American International University, London)
Contents (42k)
Preface (214k)
Chapter 1: The 'Systems Crisis'
Chapter 1.1: Systems spark a scientific revolution (238k)
Chapter 1.2: A 'systems paradigm' (254k)
Chapter 1.3: Who needs a systems paradigm? (281k)
Chapter 1.4: Role of the specialist and of the systems professional (418k)
Chapter 1.5: Systems for all! (217k)
Chapter 1.6: This book (423k)
Chapter 1.7: Footnotes and References (75k)
The need for a new approach to systems is now widely recognized in business and industry, and numerous "Systems" courses have been introduced in universities. This book offers a new systems paradigm, presents a systems outlook, defines key concepts, and outlines the principles of characterizing complex systems in a qualitative way and by the systematic use of models and measures.
The book presents the Product/process (P/p) methodology: a coherent collection of generic but readily understandable concepts, rigorous but applicable methods, and principles of reasoning. This methodology assists in understanding any system, and helps in the formulation and effective solution of complex problems, regardless of the field in which they arise, and irrespective of the specialist disciplines needed for supplying the solution.
Systems for All is aimed at three kinds of readers: practising professionals (managers, administrators, engineers and scientists) whose job is to develop, operate and manage complex systems; students (both undergraduate and postgraduate) whose courses demand an integrated study of several disciplines; members of the public who would wish to know what makes sophisticated systems tick, and why some important systems fail.
A separate booklet, containing guidelines for developing solutions to some selected exercises, is available to instructors who wish to adopt the book for a lecture course.
Contents:
- The 'Systems Crisis'
- About Problems and Communication
- General
Concepts
- Systems Concepts
- Product/Process Modelling
- Problem Solving — Process and Strategies
- Systems
- Measures
- Black Box Systems
- Structural Systems
- Products, Processes and Gates
- Process Management
- Organizational Maturity and Quality Management
- Contract
Readership: Undergraduate and postgraduate students in systems engineering,
information technology and management; professionals working in these fields; general readers with an interest in systems.
"I recommend this book to teachers and researchers as it provides a basis of an intellectual framework for systems engineering ... I believe that this work will be a major contribution to the development of a systematic framework for systems engineering as the discipline becomes more mature."
John McDermid
University of York |
| 388pp |
Pub. date: Jul 2001 |
