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A guide to systems engineering and management
Book &dew A GUIDE TO SYSTEMS ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT,by Stanley M. Shinners. 256 pages, diagrams, 6x9 in., Lexington, Mass., Lexington Books, 1976. Price, $18.95. Professor Shinner’s book on system engineering and system management has the distinction of having been authored by one whose very strong industrial experience is coupled with extensive teaching in both industrial and university programs. Modern system engineering and system management concepts, coupled with very interesting practical examples are included in this unified treatment. An accompanying Instructor’s Guide and Solutions Manual is available which provides a recommended course outline and detailed solutions to a set of practically-oriented problems found at the end of the book. The objectives of a system are covered from the viewpoints of performance, reliability, maintainability, schedule, and cost. In addition, the book illustrates how the inter-relationships among these various system parameters can be viewed. The tools of simulation and test are presented as techniques for predicting and evaluating system performance. After presenting basic system concepts, each chapter illustrates the applications of these techniques to practically-oriented system engineering and system management problems. Chapter 1 introduces the philosophy for designing large and/or complex systems. Treating system engineering from a generalized viewpoint, the author develops basic system concepts and details a generalized procedure for system engineering. This chapter presents a very valuable checklist. Methods for determining system performance are presented in Ch. 2. Analytical techniques are developed in this chapter, and applied to a very interesting and complex positioning system. A useful survey of analytical
techniques for determininistic and stochastic system problems is presented. Chapter 3 discusses techniques for predicting system reliability and maintainability, together with approaches for improving them. The latest methods for management control of schedule and cost are presented in Ch. 4. Simulation approaches which are applicable to analog, digital and hybrid computers are very well developed in Ch. 5. Another feature of the book is the excellent decision to include a chapter on the man-machine interface. This factor, present in most modern large-scale computer systems, is frequently neglected in many system-oriented books. In Ch. 6, several man-machine models are presented which are useful for system modeling and analysis. Various methods for testing systems are presented in Ch. 7, where computer methods for performing system test and data analysis are emphasized. Chapter 8 presents an excellent discussion of several modern methods used for the management of large and/or complex systems. These include such techniques as work breakdown structure, management information systems, and risk assessments. A set of very interesting, practicallyoriented problems is presented at the end of the book. Solutions to these problems are presented in the accompanying Znstructor’s Guide and Solutions Manual. A Guide to Systems Engineering and Management is a very valuable addition to
the field of system engineering and system management and is highly recommended to practicing engineers for self study. In addition, its analytical presentation and excellent set of practical problems, will also make it an excellent testbook for university and industry courses concerned with system engineering and system management. Instructors will find the recommended course outline and detailed problem solutions in the “Znsfrwctor’s Guide
107
Book Reviews and Solutions Manual” particularly appealing. The author should be commended for writing a very clear book which pro-
vides a framework for solving many of the challenging problems .facing today’s systern engineers. STEPHENADELMAN
United Technologies Corporation Norwalk, Connecticut
108
techniques for determininistic and stochastic system problems is presented. Chapter 3 discusses techniques for predicting system reliability and maintainability, together with approaches for improving them. The latest methods for management control of schedule and cost are presented in Ch. 4. Simulation approaches which are applicable to analog, digital and hybrid computers are very well developed in Ch. 5. Another feature of the book is the excellent decision to include a chapter on the man-machine interface. This factor, present in most modern large-scale computer systems, is frequently neglected in many system-oriented books. In Ch. 6, several man-machine models are presented which are useful for system modeling and analysis. Various methods for testing systems are presented in Ch. 7, where computer methods for performing system test and data analysis are emphasized. Chapter 8 presents an excellent discussion of several modern methods used for the management of large and/or complex systems. These include such techniques as work breakdown structure, management information systems, and risk assessments. A set of very interesting, practicallyoriented problems is presented at the end of the book. Solutions to these problems are presented in the accompanying Znstructor’s Guide and Solutions Manual. A Guide to Systems Engineering and Management is a very valuable addition to
the field of system engineering and system management and is highly recommended to practicing engineers for self study. In addition, its analytical presentation and excellent set of practical problems, will also make it an excellent testbook for university and industry courses concerned with system engineering and system management. Instructors will find the recommended course outline and detailed problem solutions in the “Znsfrwctor’s Guide
107
Book Reviews and Solutions Manual” particularly appealing. The author should be commended for writing a very clear book which pro-
vides a framework for solving many of the challenging problems .facing today’s systern engineers. STEPHENADELMAN
United Technologies Corporation Norwalk, Connecticut
108