Systems thinking is recognized as a critical ability for engineers who take a leading role in complex projects. Identifying those engineers with better systems-thinking capabilities is critical in many projects and organizations and enables organizations and project managers to select and place the most suitable engineers for jobs requiring a Capacity for Engineering Systems Thinking (CEST). However, up until now, no tool aimed at assessing individuals’ capacity for engineering systems thinking has ever been developed. This paper presents principles for developing an interest questionnaire aimed at selecting engineers for jobs requiring systems thinking as well as preliminary results regarding the tool's reliability and validity.
AnastasiA. (1988). Psychological testing (6th ed.). New York: Macmillan Publishing.
2.
BertalanffyL. (1968). General system theory: Foundations, development, applications.New York: George Braziller.
3.
DavidzH. (2005). Accelerating the development of senior systems engineers. Paper presented at INCOSE 2005, the 15th International Symposium of the International Council on Systems Engineering, Seattle, WA.
4.
DavisA., & O'DonnellJ. (1997). Tooling complex problems system dynamics and performance measurement. Management Accounting, 75(5), 18–20.
5.
DruckerP. (1999). Management challenges for the 21st century. New York: HarperCollins.
6.
EmesM., SmithA., & CowperD. (2005). Confronting an identity crisis—How to brand systems engineering. Systems Engineering, 8(2), 164–186.
7.
FrancoisC. (1999). Systemics and cybernetics in a historical perspective. Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 16, 203–218.
8.
FrankM. (2002a). Characteristics of engineering systems thinking—A 3-D approach for curriculum content. IEEE Transaction on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics (Part C), 32(3), 203–214.
9.
FrankM. (2002b). What is engineering systems thinking?Kybernetes: The International Journal of Systems and Cybernetics, 31(9/10), 1350–1360.
10.
FrankM., & ElataD. (2004). Principles for measuring the capacity for engineering systems thinking. Paper presented at the Annual Conference on Systems Engineering Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
11.
FrankM., LavyI., & ElataD. (2003). Implementing the project-based learning approach in an academic engineering course. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 13(3), 273–288.
12.
FrankM., & WaksS. (2001). Engineering systems thinking: A multifunctional definition. Systemic Practice and Action Research, 14(3), 361–379.
13.
GarmezyN., HarlowH. F., JonesL.V., & StevensonH.W. (1967). Principles of general psychology.New York: Ronald Press Co.
14.
GatewoodR. D., & FieldH. S. (1994). Human resource selection (3rd ed.), New York: Harcourt Brace College Publishers.
15.
HitchinsD. K. (2003). Advanced systems thinking, engineering and management.Boston: Artech House.
16.
HolmbergS. (2000). A systems perspective on supply chain measurements. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 30(10), 847–852.
17.
International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE). (2004). Systems engineering handbook, version 2a.Seattle, WA: Author.
18.
KatzD., & KahnR. L. (1978). The social psychology of organizations.New York: Wiley.
19.
KerznerH. (2006). Project manage-ment: A systems approach to planning, scheduling and controlling (9th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
20.
KimD. H. (1994). Systems thinking tool.Waltham, MA: Pegasus.
21.
KossiakoffA., & SweetW. N. (2003). Systems engineering principles and practice.Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
22.
MeredithJ. R., & MantelS. J. (2006). Project management—A managerial approach (6th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
O'ConnorJ., & McDermottI. (1997). The art of systems thinking.London: Thorsons.
26.
OssimitzG. (2002). Stock-flow-thinking and reading stock-flow-related graphs: An empirical investigation in dynamic thinking abilities. Paper presented at the System Dynamics Conference, Palermo, Italy, System Dynamics Society.
27.
PierceF. D. (2002). Applying systems thinking to safety. Professional Safety, 47(6), 49–52.
28.
Project Management Institute (PMI) (2004). A guide to the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK® guide) (3rd ed.). Newtown Square, PA: Author.
29.
RichmondB. (2000). The thinking in systems thinking.Waltham, MA: Pegasus.
30.
SageA. P. (1994). Systems management.New York: Wiley.
31.
ScottJ. (2005). ISO 9000 in service: The good, the bad and the ugly. Quality Progress, 38(9), 42–48.
32.
SengeP. M. (1994). The fifth discipline.New York: Doubleday.
33.
SengeP. M., KelinerA., RobertsC., RossR. B., & SmithB. J. (1994). The fifth discipline fieldbook.New York: Doubleday.
34.
SheardS. A. (1996). Twelve systems engineering roles. Presented at the Annual Symposium of the International Council on Systems Engineering, Seattle, WA.
35.
SweeneyL. B., & StermanJ. D. (2000). Bathtub dynamics: Initial results of a systems thinking inventory. System Dynamics Review, 16(4), 249–286.
36.
WaringA. (1996). Practical systems thinking.London: Thomson Business Press.
37.
WeinbergG. M. (1975). An introduction to general systems thinking.New York: Wiley-Interscience.
38.
WhitnerP. A. (1985). Gestalt therapy and general system theory.Toledo, OH: The University of Toledo Press.
