In graduate school I took a class called “Systems Engineering” somewhat on a whim since it was being taught by the former secretary of the navy and I like systems. In preparing to now teach the same course in the spring quarter for DU, I have been reflecting on the guiding principles of the discipline and how I can convey those to my students.
I feel “mindset” is the most distinctive feature of many of my favorite disciplines (and what makes me a good consultant). What sets Operations Research apart is the perspective that the problem is up for discussion as well, not just the solution. Similarly, lean engineering is a way of understanding and improving production systems. I see systems engineering as also primarily a perspective and set of tools: one focused on how people can design large systems that succeed.
Today’s illustration however is not a large system. Namely, it is a home improvement project I was contemplating but hesitant to move forward with. When we first bought our house 3 years ago, I was suspicious of the shower bench in the master bathroom. It seemed to have serious mold issues, and as a former Michigander I am incredibly suspicious of mold. A month later, I had patched in new tile around the bench and felt confident for the short term but knew within a few years I would want to do the whole shower properly.
After finishing my last project this summer, I have been debating how urgent the master bathroom project is. It seems like the next major project I should tackle, but should I tackle it now? With three kids home and work to do, it seemed like an obvious “no.” But still, the molding grout and caulk shouted for something to be done.
And then I realized I was making a classic mistake I learned about in systems engineering. I considered plenty of “revolutionary” alternatives (should I redo the whole bathroom, or just the shower?), but had forgotten to include an “evolutionary” alternative (leave things mostly the same, but re-caulk). One of the important lessons in Systems Engineering is to contemplate your alternatives carefully. If you are not mindful of the alternatives, you often end up with a sub-optimal solution. Like a large remodel in the middle of a pandemic.
I am happy to report that my shower is once-again mold free. And with just a couple hours invested!
