Workshop: The Application of Transformational Thinking to the Global Water Energy Nexus (GWEN)
Golden , US
1500 Illinois Street
Registration Form Here
Overview
The INCOSE CFR Executive Committee is hosting a 3-day workshop on the use of Transformational Systems Engineering (TSE) techniques to address one of the most important issues of our time, the Global Water Energy Nexus (GWEN). This workshop is a follow up to the March 2015 TSE Tutorial held at the Colorado School of Mines.
The complex interdependencies between the generation and consumption of our energy and water resources display all the characteristics of a “wicked problem”. With current trends toward more water-intensive energy (e.g. biofuels, unconventional oil and gas production, and increasing water consumption for thermoelectric power) and more energy-intensive water (e.g. desalination, water treatment, or deeper ground water pumping and production), classical systems engineering techniques for implementing rigorous, disciplined, interdependent solutions starts to break down. Our challenge, from a Systems Engineering perspective, is to apply TSE tools and best practices to GWEN.
In a very basic way, Transformational Thinking is the foundation of TSE and it has special significance on the analytical side of engineering. Transformational Thinking empowers engineers to work “outside the box.” Overall, TSE has two aspects: Analysis and Synthesis. Transformational Thinking is essential for the analysis of problems whose cause is “outside the box.” It’s particularly important for wicked problems such as GWEN. Transformational Thinking is also essential to the application of TSE practices for the synthesis aspect of engineering.
We will be approaching this problem in two stages: Analysis and Synthesis. In this first workshop, we will be focusing on the Analysis of the GWEN issues. Our purpose is to 1) identify the root cause of the GWEN problem(s) and related causal factors and 2) produce a design brief for the Synthesis stage where we will be applying TSE practices such as Agile SE, SE for Complex Systems, Human / Systems Interaction, Model-Based SE, Systems of Systems Engineering, and Design Thinking. Note that the synthesis stage will be addressed subsequent to this first workshop, either in GWEN engineering project meetings or a subsequent workshop.
Cost
$100.00 by Friday 11 September; $75.00 by Friday 21 August 2015; and $50.00 for Colorado School of Mines Faculty, Students and Alumni. The cost for this event covers light refreshments and printed workshop materials. Lunch will be the responsibility of each participant.
Workshop Agenda
- Introduction to Transformational Thinking: How to get a paradigm shift when you need one.
- Systems and their discontents
- Complexity
- Patterns and Paradigms
- Exercise: Discussion of challenges. What are that factors that make GWEN development a difficult or “Wicked Problem.”
- Design Thinking as a TSE Practice
- Exercise: Empathizing with the GWEN Stakeholders
- Five Aggregates Analysis:
- Motivation for using five aggregates analysis
- Principles of five aggregates analysis
- Exercise: A preliminary Five Aggregates Analysis of GWEN issues
- Going Deeper with Transformational Analysis: Application of Data Driven Root Cause Analysis and Five Aggregates Analysis)
- Design Thinking: Defining Problem Statements
- Exercise: Developing a set of alternative GWEN problem statements
- Data Driven Root Cause Analysis (DDRCA) Establishing the locus of a problem
- Exercise: Identifying the fundamental GWEN variables
- Exercise: Organizing key data to map the locus of the GWEN Problem(s)
- Looking for Key Patterns in Data
- Exercise: Identifying Key GWEN patterns
- Patterns in Causality and Creativity
- Exercise: Identifying causal mechanisms underlying GWEN phenomena
- Validation Challenges and Techniques
- Exercise: Validation of GWEN causal mechanisms
- Design Thinking and Patterns in Creativity
- Exercise: GWEN connectivity, emergent opportunities, collaboration
- Strategies for working inside and outside “The Box”
- Collaboration
- Exercise: A Design Brief for GWEN
- The Path Forward for the GWEN Project: The Path of Transformation
GWEN Project
The essence of this workshop is the presentation of a number of techniques that can augment traditional systems engineering processes. The Global Water Energy Nexus (GWEN) lends itself to the application of these techniques. The GWEN Project is an initiative that addresses some of the most critical challenges of our time. The goal of this workshop is to apply TSE tools and best practices to GWEN
Workshop Facilitator
Scott Workinger, Ph.D., Stanford Engineering has 35 years experience leading people who create innovative, practical solutions to business problems and field working systems in a broad spectrum of industries. He leads the Systems Engineering Transformation Caucus. He teaches technical leadership, systems architecture, test engineering, problem analysis, systems engineering, design thinking, systems thinking, system of systems thinking and transformational thinking. The students who attend his courses come from a broad cross section of backgrounds and include experienced leaders and technologists from such diverse backgrounds as the US Navy, Missile Defense Agency (MDA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), pharmaceutical companies, aircraft manufacturers, and engineering consulting firms. Scott has a passion for empowering his students through research, application, and teaching. His teaching style emphasizes coaching students in practical problem solving exercises, dialog, and class discussion.
Registration and Important Details
The Workshop is open to INCOSE members and non-members alike. The cost is $100 for both INCOSE members and non members, and $50 for Colorado School of Mines Faculty, Students and Alumni. There is a discounted early registration fee of $75.00 (subsidized by our local chapter). Register in advance using the attached registration form, with payment by cash or check no later than 21 August 2015 to:
TSE /GWEN Workshop
Ryan Biondo
417 E. Kiowa St, Apt 706
Colorado Springs, CO 80903-8406
Participants will receive a receipt by e-mail. A hard copy of workshop notes are included in the registration fee.
Light refreshments are provided. Participants are encouraged to have breakfast before arrival and to make their own arrangements for lunch. Please address any food or logistics questions to William Good at william.a.good@comcast.net or call Ryan Biondo at 443-285-9874.
Any request for a full refund may be submitted by Monday 21 September 2015 — four calendar days before the workshop begins. Pro-rated refunds may be granted after that date but the amount will be based on a case-by-case review of extenuating circumstances.
Signing in and networking will be accomplished each day of the workshop between 0800 and 0830.
Location
Arthur Lakes Library, Colorado School of Mines, 1500 Illinois Street, Golden, CO 80401 (library.mines.edu)
Driving directions from Denver International Airport and/or from I-25:
- Take I-70 westbound, exit Highway 58 to Golden.
- Exit Washington Street and turn left to enter downtown Golden.
- To get to Arthur Lakes Library, continue on Washington Street, Turn right on 14th Street until it ends at Illinois Street.
Map
Parking
Visitors to campus during operational hours — Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-5 p.m. — should park in the General (blue) and Commuter (yellow) lots. All visitor parking areas have a pay and display parking meter. Please visit the pay stations to receive a parking permit. Pay station meter rates for General (blue) parking are $1.50 per hour or $8 daily; rates for Commuter lots are $1.25 per hour or $6 daily. Metered parking permits must be displayed on your dashboard. Click for a printable visitor
parking map
.