Davidz, Heidi

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   POSTER DESCRIPTION SHEET   Title: Enablers, Barriers, and Precursors to the Development of Systems Thinking in Engineers    Author(s): Heidi Davidz    Summary Description: This study examines systems thinking development in engineers, in order to accelerate the development of senior systems engineers.  Better understanding of systems thinking development provides a foundation for more effective and efficient educational interventions and employee development for engineering professionals across industry, government, and academia.    Key Points: 1) Motivation: Companies are interested in understanding how to more rapidly develop senior systems engineers, but few studies rigorously examine the mechanisms that develop this type of thinking.   2) Methodology: Using interview and survey data from a series of host aerospace companies, the researchers are studying how senior systems professionals developed and company procedures for this development.  3) Results: The results of this research are directly applicable to systems education and systems training efforts in the LAI consortium companies.    Linkage with Research:  This poster is an overview and summary of the research. 

Enablers, Barriers, and Precursors to the Development of Systems Thinking in Engineers

   Enablers, Barriers, and Precursors to the Development of Systems Thinking in Engineers Heidi Davidz Advisor: Professor Deborah Nightingale Field Studies  • Work in multiple aerospace companies • Interview expert panelists on how each company develops systems thinking • Administer survey, personality test, and interview to compare characteristics and development histories of: 1.   Senior systems engineers 2.   Junior systems engineers 3.   Senior technical specialists Anticipated Results  • Quantitative comparisons of the three subject groups • Information of how companies currently develop and assess systems thinking • Analysis of enablers, barriers, and precursors to the development of systems thinking in engineers How do senior systems engineers develop? Motivation  •  Increasing interest in systems thinking •  Data needed on systems thinking development Innate traits Job rotations Systems  work roles Training classes Which methods are most effective in developing systems thinkers? University programs Methodology  ü 1. Literature review ü 2. Pilot interviews 3. Field studies on systems thinking development 4. Identify enablers, barriers, & precursors Exploratory Inductive 

http://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/1721.1/83994/1/SRP_Heidi_Davidz.pdf

Enablers, Barriers, and Precursors to the Development of Systems Thinking in Engineers

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