Technology management education for improving systems thinking

Systems thinking is a concept of thinking about an issue as a whole, emphasizing the interrelationships among its components rather than the components themselves. The main goal of this study is to examine whether the ability for systems thinking can be developed through experience, education, courses, and training. We present graduate and undergraduate courses in management of engineering and technology, aimed at developing a capacity for engineering systems thinking (CEST) in students. The undergraduate course is based on executing projects in teams. The graduate course is based on systems engineering principles. At the start and at the end of the courses, CEST is evaluated by addressing and measuring four components: cognitive characteristics, abilities, personal traits, and knowledge. The data collected in the current study was used to analyze the four above-mentioned components of CEST. The study findings allow us to conclude that systems thinking can develop by participation in courses and other appropriate educational programs. Better understanding of the ways in which system thinking is developed can provide a better foundation for systems thinking educational programs.