ESD.00 | Spring 2011 | Undergraduate

Introduction to Engineering Systems

Readings

SES # TOPICS READINGS
L1 Introduction to critical contemporary issues (CCIs) and complex systems Sussman, Joseph. “Complex Sociotechnical Systems (CSS): Some Fundamental Concepts.” ESD.00 Teaching Note, February 5, 2011. (PDF)
L2 System dynamics I: Introduction

Optional

Sterman, John D. Chapters 1, 3 and 5 in Business Dynamics: Systems Thinking and Modeling for a Complex World. Irwin/McGraw-Hill, 2000. ISBN: 9780072389159.

L3 System dynamics II: System structure and behavior

Optional

Sterman, John D. Chapters 6, 7 and 8 in Business Dynamics: Systems Thinking and Modeling for a Complex World. Irwin/McGraw-Hill, 2000. ISBN: 9780072389159.

L4 System dynamics III: Simulation

Optional

Sterman, John D. Chapters 8, 9, and 10 in Business Dynamics: Systems Thinking and Modeling for a Complex World. Irwin/McGraw-Hill, 2000. ISBN: 9780072389159.

Gladwell, Malcolm. The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference. Back Bay Books, 2002. ISBN: 9780316346627.

L5 Uncertainty I: Introduction

Sussman, Joseph. “How Little Mistakes Can Lead to Big Differences in Outcomes: The Weather.” Teaching Note, February 25, 2010. (PDF)

———. “The Tsunami That Wasn’t.” Teaching Note, March 7, 2010. (PDF)

L6 Uncertainty II: Applications

Sussman, Joseph. “Did Belichick Make the Right Call?” Teaching Note, February 19, 2010. (PDF)

———. “Did Belichick Make the Right Call? - Part 2” Teaching Note, March 10, 2010. (PDF)

Optional

Bertsekas, Dimitri P., and John N. Tsitsiklis. Chapter 1, 2, 3, and 4 in Introduction to Probability. 2nd ed. Athena Scientific, 2008. ISBN: 9781886529236.

L7 Networks I: Introduction, structure, and behavior  
L8 Networks II: Applications

Optional

Barabasi, Albert-Laszlo. Linked: How Everything Is Connected to Everything Else and What It Means. Plume, 2003. ISBN: 9780452284395.

L9 Considering stakeholders with different values in decision making

Martland, Carl D. Sections 5.5 and 5.6 in Toward More Sustainable Infrastructure: Project Evaluation for Planners and Engineers. 1st ed. Wiley, 2011. ISBN: 9780470448762.

Mitchell, Ronald K., Bradley R. Agle, et al. “Toward a Theory of Stakeholder Identification and Salience: Defining the Principle of Who and What Really Counts.” Academy of Management Review 22, no. 4 (1997): 853-86.

L10 Class field trip  
L11 Design of an Engineering Systems Division (ESD) undergraduate major  
L12 Final project oral presentations  

Course Info

Learning Resource Types
Problem Sets with Solutions
Lecture Notes
Projects with Examples