/research /Limits to Systems Engineering

I just corrected the proofs of my upcoming chapter ‘Limits to Systems Engineering’ in Philosophy and Engineering (I. van de Poel, D.E. Goldberg (eds.), 2009 with Springer). The volume, coming out of the first Workshop on Philosophy and Engineering (for which mmott did the design (see here and here)) contains chapters on Philosophy, Reflection and Ethics.

In my paper I explore the concept of boundary in systems engineering methodology.
A boundary, as common as it may sound, is an odd thing. In a space/time understanding boundaries are located between spaces or between times. Strict philosophically they can be understood as being neither part of the space or the time it delineates, nor of their respective environments. Yet they do not occupy space or time themselves. They are therefore only defined by what is not part of them, the ‘bounded’ space and its environment. Boundary is also used in a more metaphorical sense in everyday language. When referring to setting boundaries in interpersonal relations, or to the boundaries of our personal space, we do not allude to spatially located boundaries. Even though we could envision people literally coming into our personal space by coming close to us, our personal space is malleable. Depending on who is coming close to us and in what circumstances, our personal space changes. These kinds of boundaries are not defined by time and space alone, they rely heavily on relations between subjects and between subjects and objects.

In my paper I try to untangle the use of boundary in systems engineering to get a better grip on the concept of system as used in the theory. With a better understanding of the concept of system I try to find out whether systems engineering methodology conceptually fits complex contemporary systems, like intercontinental electric power systems or public transportation systems. Despite being build for important parts by engineers, I argue that some of the problems encountered in the (mal)functioning of these systems can be traced back to the conceptual understanding of system and boundary as reflected in systems engineering methodologies.