4.3.2 Integrating Systems Science, Systems Thinking, and Systems Engineering: understanding the differences and exploiting the synergies

Abstract There is a need to properly define the “intellectual foundations of systems engineering”; and we need to look beyond systems engineering to do this. This paper presents a new framework for understanding and integrating the distinct and complementary contributions of systems science, systems thinking, and systems engineering to create an “integrated systems approach”. The key step is to properly separate out and understand the relationship between the triad of: systems science as an objective “science of systems”; systems thinking as concerned with “understanding systems in a human context”; and systems engineering as “creating, adjusting and configuring systems for a purpose”. None of these is a subset of another; all have to be considered as distinct though interdependent subjects. A key conclusion of the paper is that the “correct” choice of system boundary for a particular purpose depends on the property of interest. The insights necessary to inform this choice belong in the domain of “systems thinking”, which thus provides a key input to “systems engineering”. In many systems businesses, the role of “systems architect” or “systems engineer” integrates the skills of systems science, systems thinking and systems engineering ‐ which are therefore all essential competencies for the role.