SAE 549: Systems Architecting (Wheaton)

SAE 549: Systems Architecting (Wheaton)

Spring 2008 Syllabus1 (of 9)

Class Sessions:

Day: / Tuesday (evening)
Time: / 6:30 pm – 9:10 pm
Room: / RTH 105 (Webcasted Course)
Class Number: / 034-32329D (DEN) and 048-32369D (on campus)

Contact Information:

Instructor: / Marilee Wheaton
Office hours: / Tuesday, 5:15 pm – 6:15 pm, or by appointment
Office location: / GER 235, 213-740-2433
Phone: / (310) 336-1220
E-mail: /
TA: / Art Dhallin
Office hours: / Tuesday 3 – 5 pm, or by appointment
Office location: / GER 207, (213) 740-6664
e-mail: / , Please contact by e-mail for appointment
Course website / is the URL of the DEN website

Course Objectives:

• To improve the student’s capability to create, develop, deliver, and support innovative complex systems that are successful and market leaders in the student’s domain by means of an interactive educational process.

• To improve the student’s understanding of the roles of systems architects and their relationship to systems engineering.

• To enhance the systems thinking capability and appreciation of the student.

Readings:

REQUIRED: / First Reader for SAE549: Rechtin, E. (1991). Systems architecting: Creating and building complex systems. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. ISBN: 0-13-880345-5
The course reader is a reprint of this book, which is otherwise currently out of print.
2ndText: / Second Reader for SAE549, Fall 2007: McKendree
A collection of chapters and articles selected by Dr. McKendree.
3rd Text: / Kesselman-Turkel, J., & Peterson, F. (2003). Research shortcuts (revised). The University of Wisconsin Press.
Select Either Group A or Group B
Group A / Group B
4th Text: / Maier, M. W., & Rechtin, E. (2002). The art of systems architecting (2nd ed.). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
ISBN: 0-8493-0440-7 / 4th Text: / Senge, P. M. (2006)The fifth discipline (revised ed.). Currency
ISBN: 0-3855-1725-4
5th Text: / Tufte, E. R. (2006). The cognitive style of powerpoint, 2nd ed. Graphics Press.
ISBN: 0-9613-9216-9 / 5th Text: / Tufte, E. R. (2006). Beautiful evidence. Graphics Press.(contains The cognitive style of powerpoint as a chapter)
ISBN: 0-9613-9217-7
SUGGESTED (Not Required):
Texts from Group not selected (excluding The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint for students who choose Group B)
Brynteson, R. (2006). Once upon a complex time: using stories to understand systems. Sparrow Media Group. ISBN: 0-9719-3048-1
Notes: / Weekly class notes/charts will be provided. They will be posted on the Course website (see above).

Advice on Readings:

If you have no basis to choose between Group A and Group B, Group A is the recommended default, and will be explicitly addressed in the lectures. (Maier and Rechtin 2002) has more recent examples from information systems, and thoughts that have led to recent tool developments. Some students have disliked (Maier and Rechtin 2002), however, because it is expensive and repeats the heuristics from (Rechin 1991). (Maier and Rechtin 2002) is not an updated edition of (Rechtin 1991). They are separate books, and students who select Group A need both.

In Group B (Senge 2006) is a classic introduction to the field of “systems thinking.” The systems it uses as examples are organizations, the environments they face, and people in those organizations. This course focuses more on physical systems situated in environments, so some translation is necessary to fully exploit (Senge 2006). Beautiful Evidence is a lovely book, with a lot of content that would be useful for the advanced systems architect. It includes useful advice in thinking about diagrams. Being able to develop better diagrams will help with the course, and is a key skill for systems architecting.In Beautiful Evidence the chapter “The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint” follows a build-up over several chapters. The pamphlet suffers in isolation, with arguments against PowerPoint but not all the background. Students who feel comfortable with the basic Systems Architecting content in this class are strongly encouraged to read Beautiful Evidence, during or after the course.

(Rechtin 1991) is out of print. You may purchase an expensive, used copy on-line. The USC Bookstore offers a reprint. This reprint is considered a “Course Reader” rather than a “book,” and thus is listed under “McKendree,” “Settles” and/or “Wheaton,” and not under “Rechtin.”

This course require Research Shortcuts because half the base grade depends on a major research paper, and many students could improve their grade with better skillsin research or in research logistics. Many of the homework assignments will also draw on these skills. It is short, and can be read quickly. You may want to skim it quickly early in the semester, and then look up key chapters. The course schedule includes a suggested reading sequence for students who wish a structured reading plan, but that is just a suggestion; there is no need to follow that exact sequence and it is easy to read the whole book much sooner.

There are several specific comments to Research Shortcuts. When you consider course time requirements in chapter 4, remember that this is a 3 unit, graduate level course, and thus you should expect to spend a minimum of 9 hours a week on the course beyond the class lecture. “Modern aids to research” (chapter 21) include the internet, but you should not limit yourself to what you can easily find on the internet, or with public search engines. Some assignments will require that you have formal references. Remote DEN students may make remote use of USC libraries and USC library research tools—consider that when identifying “the Right Library” (chapter 15). The “rule of three” in chapter 23 is an effective rhetorical device, but be warned, it can be a misleading heuristic when doing research for the purpose of determining the truth about something.

There are couple points in the reading schedule that recommend “As much of [something] as you can reasonably read.” The point of this advice is to suggest particular items to read ahead of time, which will generally help avoid major reading crunches later in the semester. Beyond this specific advice, it is always a good idea to read ahead when you have the time to do so.

The book Once Upon a Complex Time is a short introduction to systems thinking. The examples are almost exclusively from biological, organizational and social systems, but should be useful for students who have difficulty grasping the relevance of non-technical issues to systems architecting.

GRADE:

Your grade will be primarily based on a set of RESEARCH PAPERS. Small papers will be due as homeworks, and will account for fifty percent of your class grade. The primary paper will be due at the end of the course, and will account for fifty percent of your class grade.

No written MIDTERM or FINAL examination will be given in this course.

Homework is intended to build skills for both the major paper and the course itself. Guidelines for the research paper are given on this syllabus following the discussion of class participation.

The web site will have suggested guidance for your research paper, including previous student examples.

MULTIPLE SECTIONS:

This course is being taught concurrently with the Spring 2008 sections of SAE 549 taught by Tom McKendree and Stan Settles. The class meetings and main lectures are identical, and the general format the same, but the readings and homework will vary from section to section, and each instructor will independently grade his or her own students.

CLASSROOM ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION:

-As this is a webcasted course, 100% attendance in the classroom is not mandatory. However, I strongly encourage you to ask questions and participate in discussions regarding the lectures. Live discussions will engage students from all three sections. If you are attending the class from a remote site, there will be facilities for interactive voice communications with the classroom. These have sometimes had technical difficulties. In addition, many students have effectively used the chat feature of webex during class presentations. Your classroom participation is an important factor in your final grade.

-E-MAILand USE THE DISCUSSION FORUMS ON DEN!!! I strongly encourage your use of e-mail for questions, comments, etc., and the DEN discussion forum for questions, discussion and clarification with other students, etc. Of course, if you prefer face-to-face interaction or telephone conversations — well, that's equally acceptable! For remote students that cannot attend the class in the DEN Studio, or must view a delayed-broadcast videotape or webcast, or are frustrated by the telephone process: I consider your e-mail, and discussion Forum as equivalent classroom participation!

-WHAT IF YOU MUST MISS A CLASS BECAUSE OF WORK OR TRAVEL??? Use Blackboard or e-mail to submit items on time, if you can. If not, please contact me in advance to negotiate excused late submittal. I suggest that you make use of the archived class session as soon as possible. You are responsible for the material that was covered.

IF YOU WANT HELP:

-My office hours, phone numbers, and e-mail address are listed at the top of this syllabus.

Please include the Teaching Assistant Art Dhallin on distribution for any emails to me:

-I encourage you to e-mail me at any time to discuss research problems, questions, etc. At some times I will respond very quickly. At some times, I may not respond for many days. It is not now clear which times will be which, so if you have not received a response within a few days, please ask again.

RESEARCH PAPER GUIDELINES

WEEKLY HOMEWORKS:

The specific papers will typically be assigned a week before they are due. They will be posted in the “Assignments” area on DEN. For example: Describe and analyze the architecture of a selected system in terms of any or all of the class concepts presented in Lecture XYZ. Your analysis should provide a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the characteristics, benefits, and limitations of that system. Exploration of heuristics relative to that system is strongly encouraged.

Length:The length available for a weekly paper will be specified, and is generally limited to two pages, single-spaced, 10 point (in the normal profile orientation).

MAJOR PAPER:

I expect the major paper to be of sufficient quality that it could be submitted to a refereed journal for publication consideration. The INCOSE Systems Engineering Journal or the IIE Transactions provide journalistic styles for your paper.

One of the following:

• Describe and analyze the architecture of a selected system in terms of any or all of the class concepts presented in lectures. Your analysis should provide a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the characteristics, benefits, and limitations of that system.
• Write a systems architecture research paper based on a minimum of three papers that have been published in refereed journals.

Subject to my approval, you get to choose the topic:

-It can be something that you have been personally involved in, or something that interests you.

-It can be ongoing, a future system, or it can be past history.

APPROVAL:For the MAJOR PAPER: You must submit a one-page proposal regarding your proposed topic for approval which is due on February 19, 2008.

FORMAT:Typed. A bibliography and contact list is essential, listing what sources you used. Be sure to provide the URLs and dates of any Internet sources used in your research. Be sure to include all necessary citations in the body of your text.
The class website provides guidelines on how to write a research paper, with suggestions for format, organization, structure, and content of good research papers.

LENGTH:Experience to date shows that the best size for the MAJOR PAPER is somewhere around 10-to-15 pages, single-spaced, in 10 or 12-point type.

NOTE: I do not grade papers by their weight! Take as long as it takes to tell the story clearly, present an analysis in terms of the course concepts but keep the analysis tight, stay organized and don't ramble. Very few papers of size less than 10 pages have been worthy of an “A” grade in this class. The point is not size, rather amount of analytical content.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

-Please feel free to e-mail me or the TA for help in structuring your research plan. I will gladly work with you to identify sources, publications, Internet sites, etc.

-There have been previous attempts of students to copy other’s text into their papers or homework. Never copy text in to your file without marking it with a citation. Never attempt to copy text into your file and then “edit it into your own word.” All the text that you turn in that comes from somewhere else must be marked as quotation. All the ideas that you turn in that come from someone else must be cited. The default punishment for plagerism by a graduate student is failing the course, and expulsion is possible.

-If English grammar, spelling and syntax are not your strong points, I strongly suggest that you obtain help in editing your text. Your grade depends on the clarity of presentation.

DELIVERY:The homework, the research paper proposal, and the main research paper should be submitted to the DEN Blackboard system (at the Course website, .

GRADING:Each research paper will be graded on the letter scale: A, A-, B+, B, B-, etc. Your classroom participation (in person, by telephone, via e-mail or discussion board) is one factor in this grade, and can move your letter grade up (or down!) by a plus or a minus. Note, this means that if you have negligible class participation, this will lower your grade by one step. I view graduate education as a two way street. This means that I expect students to teach me as a part of the experience. As an incentive to do so I do not believe that a student has earned an A in a graduate course of this nature unless they have taught me something during the semester.

Your final paper grade will require writing a paper that would be instructive or of general interest to systems architects, even ones with no interest in the particular system you analyze.

Note: if your employer requires a written statement (or a signed postcard) for reimbursement for this class, then please provide me with the appropriate paperwork and a self-addressed, stamped-envelope (or postcard) before the end of the semester.

UNIVERSITY LEVEL ISSUES

STATEMENT FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:

Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to registerwith Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approvedaccommodations can be obtained from DSP. Please be sure the letter is delivered to me (or toTA) as early in the semester as possible. DSP is located in STU 301 and is open 8:30 a.m.–5:00p.m., Monday through Friday. The phone number for DSP is (213) 740-0776.

STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:

USC seeks to maintain an optimal learning environment. General principles of academic honestyinclude the concept of respect for the intellectual property of others, the expectation thatindividual work will be submitted unless otherwise allowed by an instructor, and the obligationsboth to protect one’s own academic work from misuse by others as well as to avoid usinganother’s work as one’s own. All students are expected to understand and abide by theseprinciples. Scampus, the Student Guidebook, contains the Student Conduct Code in Section11.00, while the recommended sanctions are located in Appendix A: Students will be referred to the Office of Student Judicial Affairs and Community Standards forfurther review, should there be any suspicion of academic dishonesty. The Review process canbe found at:

Schedule of Class Sessions:The exact schedule is likely to change, based on availability of guest lecturers. Changes will be announced.

2007 / Session number: Planned topic / Readings & Reminders (In addition, supplementary papers and notes will be available from the DEN website)
All Students / Group A / Group B
15 Jan / 1: Introductions–to the course, the instructors, and systems architecting / “Preface” of (Rechtin, 1991)
22 Jan / 2: The architect & architecting / Ch 1 of (Rechtin, 1991)
Raymond, Arthur E., (1951) “The Well Tempered Aircraft” from the second reader.
Recommended: Research Shortcuts All, or Ch. 1, 2, 36. / “Preface,” “Part 1,” & Ch 1 of (Maier and Rechtin, 2002) / Ch 1, 2 of (Senge 2006)
Suggested: Beautiful Evidence: Introduction; Introduction to (Senge 2006)
29 Jan / 3: Boundaries & interfaces / Ch 2 of (Rechtin, 1991)
McKendree,T., (1992) “The Role of the Systems Architect, and How it Relates to Systems Engineering” from the second reader
Recommended: Research Shortcuts Ch.3, 4,10, 21 / Ch 2 of (Maier and Rechtin, 2002) / Ch 3 of (Senge 2006)
Suggested: Beautiful Evidence: Mapped Pictures(pp. 12-27)
5 Feb / 4: Modeling, simulation, prototyping / Ch 3 of (Rechtin, 1991)
Recommended: Research Shortcuts Ch.7, 11, 16 / Ch9 of (Maier and Rechtin, 2002)
“Chapter 5 A Shift in Mind” from the second reader / Ch 5 of (Senge 2006)
Beautiful Evidence:Linked and Causal Arrows
12 Feb / 5: The architect’s kit of tools; Strategic choices / Ch 4of(Rechtin, 1991)
Recommended: Research Shortcuts Ch.5, 6, 15 / Both “Part 3” and Ch 8 of (Maier and Rechtin, 2002) / Ch 4 of (Senge 2006)
Suggested: Beautiful Evidence: Mapped Pictures (pp. 28-45)
19 Feb / 6: Systems test, acceptance, & operation / Ch 7of(Rechtin, 1991)
Recommended: Research Shortcuts Ch.8, 12, 17, 22
Research Paper Proposal due / Both “Part 2” and Ch3 of (Maier and Rechtin, 2002) / Ch 6 of (Senge 2006)
Beautiful Evidence:Words, Numbers, Images – Together (pp82-109)
26 Feb / 7: Building the system, manufacturing & production / Ch 6of(Rechtin, 1991)
Recommended: Research Shortcuts Ch.9, 13, 18, 27. / Ch 4of (Maier and Rechtin, 2002) / Ch 7 of (Senge 2006)
Beautiful Evidence:Words, Numbers, Images - Together (pp109-121)
4 Mar / 8: Guest Lecture / Recommended: Research Shortcuts Ch.14, 19, 20, 28. As much of Ch 5, 9-13 of (Rechtin, 1991) as you can reasonably read. / Ch 7 of (Maier and Rechtin, 2002) / Beautiful Evidence: The Fundamental Principles of Analytic Design
Ch 8 of (Senge 2006)
11 Mar / 9: Information Systems / Ch 5of(Rechtin, 1991)
Recommended: Research Shortcuts Ch.23, 24, 25, 29.
Guest Lecture: / Ch 6 of (Maier and Rechtin, 2002) / Ch 9 of (Senge 2006)
Beautiful Evidence: Sparklines
18 Mar / Spring Break
25 Mar / 10: Guest Lecture / Ch 9 of(Rechtin, 1991)
“Military Innovation in Peacetime” from the second reader
Recommended: Research Shortcuts Ch.26, 30, 31. As much of Ch. 12, 15 of (Rechtin, 1991) as you can reasonably read. / Ch 5 of (Maier and Rechtin, 2002) / Ch 10 of (Senge 2006)
1 Apr / 11: Economics policy & political process / Ch 12, 13 of(Rechtin, 1991),
Recommended: Research Shortcuts Ch.32, 33. / Ch 12 of (Maier and Rechtin, 2002) / Ch 11 of (Senge 2006)