Complex Adaptive Systems for the Systems Engineer: What You Need to Know About Chaos, Complexity to do Well in the 21st Century

Speaker

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Sarah A. Sheard

Abstract

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This tutorial surveys the exciting new sciences of chaos and complexity theory, complex adaptive systems, networks, small world theory, and even advances in cognitive science, and shows how the information in these sciences can be used to engineer systems better.

Our approach to building, using, and maintaining ever more complex systems, particularly those systems that involve independently owned and operated, interconnected computers that continually adapt to the environment around them, can be viewed more simply and intuitively if we understand how complex adaptive systems work together in networks similarly to networks of biological systems.

Building on the author's very successful 2005 paper presentation on Practical Applications of Complexity Theory for Systems Engineers, this tutorial describes the basics of chaos and complexity theory, including exercises such as a group exercise where students behave as birds in a flock according to simple rules, noting the changes in flock behavior as the simple rules change. The tutorial surveys various kinds of networks including random networks and small-world networks (including the concept of six degrees of familiarity), looking into the conditions under which different kinds of network would grow.

Finally, the tutorial summarizes changes to systems engineering practice as these concepts are incorporated and shows students where to go to continue learning in this field.

Biography

Sarah A. Sheard is the Principal at Third Millennium Systems in Great Falls, Virginia and an adjunct professor in Engineering Management and Systems Engineering at George Washington University. Ms. Sheard has worked in systems engineering and process improvement for over 25 years.
In 2006 she became a Fellow of the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE), and in 2002 she was awarded INCOSE's Founder's Award (INCOSE) for her contributions to systems engineering and the Council, including over 30 publications, chairing the Measurement technical committee and the Communications committee, and serving as program chair and director of the Washington Metropolitan Area chapter.

Ms. Sheard is a certified systems engineering professional (CSEP) with degrees from the University of Rochester and the California Institute of Technology.

Ms. Sheard has presented papers at every INCOSE symposium except 1991 and 1993, averaging 2 papers a year. In addition she has presented invited papers at the (Systems and) Software Technology conference, the INCOSE MARC regional conference in 2000, several single-company conferences, and the Washington Metro Area chapter of INCOSE. She was also a Keynote speaker at the Sun Engineering Conference in 2005, and will be an invited speaker at the European Systems Engineering Conference (EuSEC) this September. Ms. Sheard's enthusiastic and engaging style draws standing-room only crowds at every symposium presentation.

Location

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Aerospace Company
A3 Dining Rooms
2350 E. El Segundo Blvd.
El Segundo, CA