MIT Libraries logoDSpace@MIT

MIT
View Item 
  • DSpace@MIT Home
  • Engineering Systems Division
  • Engineering Systems Division (ESD) Working Paper Series
  • View Item
  • DSpace@MIT Home
  • Engineering Systems Division
  • Engineering Systems Division (ESD) Working Paper Series
  • View Item
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

The Link between Cognition and the Complexity of Engineering Systems Design

Author(s)
Williams, John R.
Thumbnail
Downloadesd-wp-2003-01.18.pdf (232.1Kb)
Metadata
Show full item record
Abstract
This paper focuses on the role of human cognition in the design of large complex systems. It contrasts the physical system that is the product of the design with the cognitive model that is used by the designer to “understand” the system. The complexity of the system relevant to the designer is a function not only of the physical system, but also of the cognitive model that the designer holds in his mind. Furthermore, the level of cognitive model available to an experienced designer depends on the state of domain knowledge. To be useful in answering the question, “How complex is this system to design?” the state of the domain knowledge available to the designer must be assessed with respect to the level at which the design problem is posed. The concept of conceptual distance is introduced that depends on the disparity between the present level of integrated knowledge and the conceptual level of the design problem. This “distance” is a measure of the complexity of the design task and is called the cognitive complexity of the design. To investigate the concept of cognitive complexity a model of human knowledge is proposed along with a set of graphical abstractions. It is concluded that the cognitive complexity of the design task is neither wholly intrinsic (a property of the system) nor wholly subjective (a property of the mind) but requires an objective evaluation of the engineering problem with respect to present knowledge. It is noted that the structure of knowledge in a specific domain can be mapped and therefore a research program can be launched to systematically determine the difficulty of various engineering endeavors.
Date issued
2002-05
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102746
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division
Series/Report no.
ESD Working Papers;ESD-WP-2003-01.18-ESD Internal Symposium

Collections
  • Engineering Systems Division (ESD) Working Paper Series

Browse

All of DSpaceCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects

My Account

Login

Statistics

OA StatisticsStatistics by CountryStatistics by Department
MIT Libraries
PrivacyPermissionsAccessibilityContact us
MIT
Content created by the MIT Libraries, CC BY-NC unless otherwise noted. Notify us about copyright concerns.