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