Outeursreg voorbehou/ Copyright reserved 

                                                            
Departement Materiaalkunde en Metallurgiese Ingenieurswese 
Department of Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering 
 
 
MODULE: SYSTEMS ENGINEERING 
 
CODE: BSS 410 
 
TEST: SEMESTER TEST ONE  
 
DATE: 21st AUGUST, 2017 
 
DURATION: 60mins  
 
TOTAL RAW MARKS: 70marks 
 
PERCENTAGE EQUIVALENT: 25% 
 
INTERNAL EXAMINER: Dr. M.K.O. Ayomoh 
 
INTERNAL EXTERNAL EXAMINER: Dr. O. Adetunji 
 
NO. OF PAGES: 2 PAGES 
 
INSTRUCTIONS: 
1. Answer ALL questions. 
2. Each motivation should be straight to the point, brief and precise.  
3. Write your Student Information as required on the Answer Booklets used.  
 
THIS PAPER CONSISTS OF: 2 TYPED PAGES (including the front page) 
 
DO NOT TURN THE PAGE BEFORE PERMISSION IS GRANTED 
 
 
 
Question 1
a. Assuming an automated student grading system is designed to interact with
three external entities viz: students records system, student and instructor, it is
required of you to draw a context diagram with one input and output per entity
showing the system interaction with its environment. [10 marks]
 
Question 2
a. The presidential system of democratic governance more often than not goes
with three arms of government viz: the executive, legislative and judiciary arms.
Do these arms represent three different systems or not and why? In one line,
motivate your answer. [5 marks]
b. What does the acronym “SIMILAR” represent in Systems Engineering
Modelling Process? [3.5 marks]

Either ways as presented below is fine for [2a]

[2a]. i. They represent one system i.e. democratic system of governance.

ii. The executive, legislative and judicial arms are all sub-systems of the
democratic system of governance.

[2b]. SIMILAR

Question 3
a. Identify an operational need at the system level and establish its physical and
functional building blocks. [13 marks]
b. Briefly differentiate between an engineered complex system and a complex
system that is not engineered. Give one example for each. [5 marks]
c. List and briefly motivate at least two systems engineering principles that can
be applied to non-engineered complex systems. [5 marks]
d. List at least two predominant issues that occur at the component level.
[2 marks]
[3a option #1]

See lecture #3 slide 24

[3a. Option #2]

Assuming the operational need is a particular knowledge to be acquired at the
university level:
 Operational/Mission needs requirement
 what students should be able to do when they graduate [Insert
name if it exist e.g. Nano-particulate Engineering; Space
engineering etc] otherwise state the different problem areas/tasks
that students should be knowledged in when they graduate.
 Functional elements
 The knowledge required to meet the operational needs
 Physical elements
 Component level
 The modules to be taught to get the required knowledge
 Sub-component level]
 Lectures for a minimum duration/Practical
sessions/tutorials/
 homework/tests/exams
 Part level
 Books, learning materials/environment etc to achieve the
[sub-component level]

[b] Engineered complex systems are systems designed and developed with
established principles and theories for optimal performance, enhanced
productivity with high degree of risk mitigation e.g. a network of bridges.

A non-engineered complex system can be either a complex system that was

developed without any defined performance measures or theoretical guidance
e.g. a cobweb of interacting sticks.

Also, another class of systems under this group are the natural systems e.g.
humans.

[c]. i. Context diagramming- This is meant to show how a system connects

and interacts with external entities within its ambient environment. However,
this can also be used to show how the internal members of a system inter-
relate and connect with each other.
ii. Functional and Physical building blocks- This is meant to show
connectedness, integration of system member units and overall system’s
hierarchy

[d]. At the component level, the predominant issues looked at includes:

 reliability
 form and fit
 compatibility with the operational environment
 maintainability
 producibility
 testability
 safety and
 cost
 Question 4
a. As a curriculum development consultant for higher institutions of learning in
South Africa, how can the concept of functional and physical building blocks be
applied to aid your job of curriculum development? [10 marks]
b. A systems engineer is a “multiplexer”. What does this statement mean?
Motivate your answer in a one-line sentence. [3.5 marks]
c. List three differences and similarities between systems engineering and project
management. [3 marks]
d. List six characteristics of System of Systems and give one example each for the
different types of system of systems. [10 marks]

[4a]. As a curriculum development consultant for higher institutions of

learning in South Africa, how can the concept of functional and physical
building blocks be used to aid your job of curriculum development?
This problem can be approached as thus:
 Operational/Mission needs requirement
 what students should be able to do when they graduate [Insert
name if it exist e.g. Nano-particulate Engineering; Space
engineering etc] otherwise state the different problem areas/tasks
that students should be knowledged in when they graduate.
 Functional elements
 The knowledge required to meet the operational needs
 Physical elements
 Component level
 The modules to be taught to get the required knowledge
 Sub-component level]
 Lectures for a minimum duration/Practical
sessions/tutorials/
homework/tests/exams
 Part level
 Books, learning materials/environment etc to achieve the
[sub-component level]

[4b]. Either response below is fine for (4b)

b(i) Integrating and coordinating specialists from different fields.

(ii) Bringing together specialists from different fields and coordinating them in
the development of a new system or upgrading of existing ones.
[4c]. Differences include:
i. Systems Architecture
ii. Systems Integration
iii. Technical Coordination

Similarities include:
i. Customer Interaction
ii. Tasks Definition
iii. Risk Management

[4d] Characteristics of System of Systems [SoSs]

o Operational Independence of the Individual Systems
o Managerial Independence of the Individual System
o Geographic Distribution- different locations share only
information and knowledge
o Emergent Behavior- exhibit additional features as a result of the
conglomeration
o Evolutionary Development-evolve in goals, vision, strategies
o Self-organization- dynamic organizational structure
o Adaptation- perceives the environment and responds to external
changes

Examples of System of Systems

 Virtual SoS
o Union of South African Universities [Almost non-existence but
occasional association cannot be ruled out]
 Collaborative SoS
o BRICS nations (central management activities are tied to the
presidents of the member nations)
 Acknowledged SoS
o Union of African nations (African Union); Dedicated Union
president/chair person; United Nations
 Directed SoS
o i. Branches of an Industry spread across nations or cities e.g.
General motors, Ford motors centrally managed in the USA but
different
 production plants in diverse nations have some level of
individualized activities.
o ii. All member states in a confederation e.g. Provinces in South
Africa, States in America etc. Membership is not by choice but
mandatory however, individual autonomy exist on a number of
issues.