Four layers approach for developing a tool for assessing systems thinking

To perform successfully systems engineering tasks, systems engineers need a systems view, in other words, a high capacity for engineering systems thinking (CEST). A tool for assessing systems thinking of engineers, once validated, may be used for systems engineering workforce selection and development, developing systems engineering curriculum, education, and training programs, as well as a standard tool for assessing systems engineers' competencies. Since there is no known way of directly 'measuring' systems thinking in general and CEST in particular, an indirect method is needed. This paper proposes an idea for developing an indirect means, i.e. a questionnaire for assessing the CEST of systems engineers. The idea is composed of four logic layers.