Industrial Engineering & Management

Four Layers Approach for Developing System Thinking Assessment Tool for Industrial and Systems Engineers

Abstract

Frank M and Kordova SK

Purpose: This paper deals with four layers approach for developing a tool for assessing engineering systems thinking. Every engineer and, in particular, industrial and systems engineer needs a systems view that enable to perform systems engineering tasks successfully. The paper’s purpose is to present a tool for assessing systems thinking of industrial and systems engineers. The tool may be used for industrial and systems engineering workplace selection and development, developing industrial and systems engineering curriculum, education, and training programs, as well as a standard tool for assessing industrial and systems engineers’ competencies. Design/methodology/approach: We have to find a way to evaluate a systems view or in other words, a high capacity for engineering systems thinking (CEST) Since there is no known way of directly ‘measuring’ systems thinking in general and CEST, in particular, an indirect method is needed. This paper proposes an idea for developing an indirect means, i.e. a questionnaire for assessing the CEST of industrial and systems engineers. The idea is composed of four logic layers that will be presented in the paper. Findings and originality/value: Eighty-three, which later aggregated to thirty-four competencies, of successful industrial and systems engineers were identified in a previous study. They can be classified into four categories – ten cognitive competencies, eleven abilities, ten individual traits and three dealing with multidisciplinary knowledge and experience. Thus, the content validity of the proposed tool can be achieved by basing its items on the finding in the latter study. Additional studies were done on systems thinking among industrial and systems engineers and among engineers from various disciplines. One of the findings of a previous study is that in order to be a successful industrial and systems engineer, one must have both a will and interest in being an industrial and systems engineer. The three components discussed here – success in an industrial and systems engineering position, interest in industrial and systems engineering positions and CEST – are all interrelated. The will and interest to be an industrial and systems engineer means basically the desire and interest to be involved in job positions that require CEST. In other words, we may hypothesize that there is a high positive correlation between the engineering systems thinking extent (CEST) of an individual and his/her interest in what is required from successful industrial and systems engineers. Research limitations/implications: Owing to time constraints, the research only included a limited sample of industrial and systems engineers. In order to enlarge the external validity of this research, we should ask more subjects from different engineering disciplines and use additional tools such as interviews and observations. Originality/value: The framework of this research is unique in term of its new approach and evaluation processes