Dr Joseph E. Kasser explains how when systems thinking is applied to systems engineering, the artificial complexity is stripped away, the myths are identified for what they are, and systems thinking is shown to be a powerful tool that is used by many outstanding systems engineers.

Mr. Zane Scott explains that there must be good, sound engineering paired with solid, intentional systems thinking for us to have a solid foundation for what we do as Systems Engineers. Too many times we take systems engineering to be a process - a checklist of activities we can do that will aggregate to “systems engineering.” Throw in “models” and we get “model-based systems engineering.” Without the understanding and application of fundamental first principles we can walk through the steps of the Systems Engineering processes and miss the real rewards. Mr. Scott explores the first principles of the systems thinking leg of systems engineering.

David Fadeley, ESEP, and Myra Parsons-Gross, ESEP, reflect on a shared learning journey about technical leadership from the perspective of a group of emerging technical leaders.