The systems stance

ABSTRACT

An engineer can be greatly helped in dealing with complex and unusual systems by taking a specific attitude to the world of reality: The Systems Stance. It involves an attitude of personal engagement and in which one relates to almost all reality by means of models. Of the many forms of model, the most important distinction is between generic and specific models. Modelling is discussed generally including the discipline required by a set of system modelling principles. A more detailed discussion on systems and systems models follows, where model definition is seen as a process marked by increasing confidence or decreasing uncertainty. The advantages and limitations of subjective approaches are stressed, together with a need for care and a sound ethical foundation. Specific areas of interest are: the place of temporal issues; questions of value emphasising quality and a system aesthetic; and the relation of the systems stance to uncertainty and surprise.

KEYWORDS:

• Systems
• model
• reality
• subjectivity
• value
• quality
• time
• uncertainty
• reailience

Acknowledgements

Many people have contributed to my thinking. I particularly acknowledge David Billington, who helped me see the aesthetic joy of good structures, David Blockley who thought deeply and devised or discovered so many new approaches before I even thought of them, Toby Richards who brought a different view of what reality-grounded engineering should be about, David Carmichael whose uncompromising approach drove me mad but boosted my thinking in creative ways, John Robinson and Francis Small who involved me in fascinating real-life problems, David Thom who kept me honest with his kindness and his far-sighted views on environmental and sustainability issues, Paul Jowitt with his ongoing encouragement on deeper systems thinking on a global scale, and perhaps most of all Colin Brown, who shared his formidably austere thinking in a way that meant we worked closely together over many years, writing more joint papers than I can count, and enjoying every minute of it.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes on contributor

David Elms was born in London, brought up in Wales and later emigrated to England where he went to school, became an apprentice, received a BA in engineering at Cambridge and for three years worked as a structural engineer at the De Havilland Aircraft Company. He switched to civil engineering via masters and PhD degrees from Princeton University before joining the Civil Engineering Department of the University of Canterbury. He switched from structural to systems engineering in the early 1970's, working in different systems-related areas including risk. He retired for academic life in 2000 but his consulting and research interests continue. He was President of the Association of Engineering Education for Southeast Asia and the Pacific. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand, a Distinguished Fellow of Engineering New Zealand, and a Member of the Order of New Zealand (MNZM).

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.