Bodies, Ideas, and Dynamics: Historical Perspectives on Systems Thinking in Engineering
Name
esd-wp-2003-01.23.pdf
Size
139.83 KB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
b49a131152f375a21530e53447d98a35
Author(s)
Mindell, David A.
Date Issued
May 2002
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division
Series/Report no.
ESD Working Papers;ESD-WP-2003-01.23-ESD Internal Symposium
Abstract
Today, the idea that technology consists not simply of individual machines but of systems of components and interconnections underlies much of engineering theory and practice. Yet this idea is relatively new in the history of technology; it evolved over a long period, spanning more than a century, as engineers grappled with the implications of machinery and collections of apparatus that spread over broad geographical areas. A historical perspective on systems thinking provides a critical background for contemplating new directions in “engineering systems,” by highlighting the problems that have constantly challenged engineers, as well as the new puzzles posed by today’s world.
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