The Growing Need for Systems Thinking - Shoal Group · 2018. 2. 14. · Systems thinking –Two definitions ^Systems thinking is a management discipline that concerns an understanding

Public Transportation The Growing Need for Systems Thinking

Victorian Transport Working Group

13 February 2018

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Shaun Wilson Chief Executive Officer, Shoal Engineering Pty Ltd

Career systems engineerAerospace, defence, communications, IT, transportationNational and international30 years in advanced technology & complex systems20 years in large-scale system design and project advice

Former SESA PresidentAustralian chapter of International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE)

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Who am I?

Drivers of change

Why are we talking about

systems thinking today?

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Anthony Foxx

US Secretary of Transportation

2013 – 2017

Obama Administration

APTA Annual Meeting in October 2015

Vision … using public transportation to

close opportunity gaps in modern society

“Transportation is a pillar of opportunity

like education and health care”

“Addressing connectivity means embracing

new technology”

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Changes in demography

Smaller families moving closer in

“… between 2023 and 2029 couples without children will be the most common family type in Australia.” (ABS)

After ‘emptying out’ in the1960s and 1970s, cities centres are becoming denser again

(A more stark phenomenon in the US than in Australia, but happening here too)

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Changes in public infrastructure

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Changes in technology

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‘Information to the edge’

Changes in connectivity

Seamless multi-modal

“Lyft and Amtrak now let passengers

book rides to and from the train

station”

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Changes in societal expectation

Empowered consumer

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So …

… how should or could we use

investment in public transportation

to close opportunity gaps in

society?

… what design approaches will help

us to deliver what’s needed?

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Delivery challenges

Why are we talking about

systems thinking today?

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Holistic understanding needed

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Training and awareness

Administrative and logistical

support

Infrastructure, facilities and equipment

Asset Management

Planning, management and

leadership

People and organisations

Safety, security and emergency response

Of individual transportation systems

Systems of systems

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The entire transport network

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Constraints

Verification

Standards

Trade Studies

MOEs COIs Interfaces

Risks

Traceability

Validation

Architecture

DecisionsPerformance

ReviewsChange

Management

Needed Capabilities

Concepts and Specifications

Solution Architecture

Complexity in relationships is often hidden.Inconsistencies result in problems.

Adapted from Vitech Corp. source

Systems thinking

What is it?

What does it really mean?

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Systems thinking – Two definitions

“Systems thinking is a management discipline that concerns an understanding of a system by examining the linkages and interactions between the components that comprise the entirety of that defined system.”

The Institute for Systemic Leadership

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“Systems thinking is a world-view that provides the appreciative and reflective practice based on the ‘systems paradigm’ concepts, patterns, etc”

Professor Stephen Cook, Shoal Engineering

Systems methodologies

• Systems Engineering

• Project Management

• Asset Management

• Soft Systems Methodology

• User-Centred Design

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• Strategic planning

• Holistic health practices

• Systems Dynamics Modelling

• Gestalt psychology

• … and others …

Systems Engineering

What is it?

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What is Systems Engineering?

“A transdisciplinary approach that applies to systems principles and concepts to enable the successful realization and use of engineered systems and whole-system solutions.”

INCOSE Fellows

Focuses on defining customer needs and required functionality early in the development cycle, capturing requirements, then proceeding with design synthesis and system validation while considering the complete problem:• Operations • Cost & schedule• Performance • Training & support• Test • Manufacturing• Disposal

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??

Verification: Did we build the system right?Validation: Did we build the right system?

Key concept – Lifecycle

Large complex projects may take many years before they are operational

A mechanism for handling risk and change

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Key concept – Early-stage design

Image courtesy New York City Transit

Purpose Development Delivery OperateConcept

20%

40%

60%

Cost

Savin

gs v

s. C

apital B

udget

Upper Savings Range vs. Phase

Lower Savings

Range vs. Phase0%

© Atkins 2011

Upper and Lower

Overrun Avoidance

vs. Phase

Savings in capital cost of 6-18%Reduced overspend of 17-30%

Atkins Limited (for UK Department for Transport). Rail Value for Money Study:

Whole System Programme Management Final Report, May 2011.

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UK rail value-for-money study

Whole-of-life, whole-of-system approach

Related approaches

How else do we design

and manage complex

systems?

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User-Centred Design

A systems methodology

The design is based upon an explicit understanding of users, tasks and environments.

Users are involved throughout design and development.

The design is driven and refined by user-centred evaluation.

The process is iterative.

The design addresses the whole user experience.

The design team includes multidisciplinary skills and perspectives.

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Asset Management

How do systems thinking

& engineering relate?

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SE the AM change mechanism

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©Copyright 2014 Institute of Asset Management (www.theIAM.org/copyright)

Sco

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Ass

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anag

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Customers Legislation InvestorsCommercial Environment

Organizational Strategic Plan

Organization& People

Strategy & Planning

Asset ManagementDecision Making

Asset Information

Risk & Review

LifecycleDelivery

Lifecycle Delivery- Technical Standards & Legislation- Asset Creation & Acquisition

- Systems Engineering- Configuration Management- Maintenance Delivery- Reliability engineering- Asset Operations- Resource Management- Shutdown & Outage response- Fault & Incident Response- Asset Decommissioning & Disposal

13 February 2018

SE fit in an Enterprise AM context

Project Systems Engineering

Enterprise Systems Engineering

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Systems thinking – Another view

“Systems thinking is a discipline for seeing wholes. It is a framework for seeing interrelationships rather than things, for seeing ‘patterns of change’ rather than static ‘snapshots.’”

Peter Senge, MIT

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Public Transportation The Growing Need for Systems Thinking

Victorian Transport Working Group

13 February 2018

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