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Systems

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The Systems Centre at the University of Bristol is developing a far reaching stakeholder-needs defined research programme rooted in the application of Systems Thinking approaches across a full range of engineering disciplines and sectors.

Systems Research themes

  • Design and Integration of Complex Engineered Systems investigates and develops new approaches to engineering design that apply appropriate techniques from complexity and social sciences, environmental monitoring and modelling. It includes the development of concepts such as ‘systems architecting’ as a means of achieving a better response to understanding of stakeholder needs, environmental factors and interoperability of systems during the goal setting and problem definition stages, as well as creating a space in which design engineers can explore innovative conceptual designs.
  • Developing Theory and Methodology in Systems Thinking and Application in Engineering Practice is linked with more than 70 Industry based EngD in Systems research projects and 40 companies supporting these projects, this research programme aims to deepen an understanding of Systems Thinking as a set of methods and tools, as well as a purposeful human activity. Research work is also looking at developing methods and tools for generic networking analysis and agent-based modelling of complex systems, including applications areas in improved reliability and vulnerability analysis.

Systems thinking is knowing how to make appropriate interventions in complex socio-technical systems and provides a key intellectual underpinning for Systems Engineering.

  • Learning & Leadership in Engineering Organisations findings show that many partner organisations are in the process of transforming their business to orientate it around a Systems Thinking approach. Some of the benefits to industry and society from research within this theme include achieving an overall enhanced capability in workforce; development of future engineering leaders who are capable of building and transforming engineering organisations; enhancing interdisciplinary working to overcome the limitations of the natural technical silos of an organisation.

Collaboration with:

  • The UK Large-Scale Complex IT Systems (LSCITS) Initiative (Director Prof Dave Cliff).  Funded by EPSRC (more than £10M), this Initiative is developing new science and engineering tools and techniques aimed at the design, development and operation of resilient ultra-large-scale software-intensive socio-technical systems.
  • Safety Systems Research Centre (SSRC) (Director Dr John May), established in 1995, conducting research into the challenges of safe and reliable design, operation and maintenance of computer-based systems.
  • Centre for Systems Learning and Leadership (Director Dr Ruth Deakin-Crick), Graduate School of Education, University of Bristol. The centre is developing visible, critiquable re-presentations of educational ecosystems to evaluate tools, designed for socio-technical systems modelling and ICT for sense-making, asking how effectively they provide insight for educational leaders.

Core activities

  • Developing world class research in Socio-Technical Systems – architecture and design for complex systems, focusing on purposeful performance through people & process; developing systems pedagogy and systems engineering methodologies and tools; developing underpinning philosophical rigour.
  • Working with industry to enhance performance through Systems Practice –addressing real world problems through design and application of Systems Thinking.
  • Working with academics to develop industrial collaborations – creating opportunities and being a catalyst for new academic and industry collaborations through engagement in Industrial needs-driven research.
  • Stimulating research and collaboration through Invited speaker and seminar series and annual research conferences.
  • Training and developing future leaders of industry through bespoke post graduate education:
    • This includes MRes and EngD in Systems;
    • MSc in Leadership and Learning in Systems and responsive mode courses for industry. These are collaborative programmes involving the University of Bath and the University of Bristol Graduate School of Education.

  • The Industrial Doctorate Centre in Systems is a leading centre and one of the largest for doctoral training in the UK. To date it has attracted £8.4M of EPSRC funding and £11M Industry contributions. The IDC in Systems attracted to date more than 70 Research Engineers, sponsored by more that 40 UK companies.

    Furthermore, in the last 3 years more than 200 undergraduate students from across the Engineering faculty have developed their knowledge and skills in Open Systems architecture and design on the RAEng-funded Sustainable Systems course, delivered by the Systems Centre.

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