Research Aims

Through my research and development projects I aim to exploit the discipline of Systems of Systems (SoS) Engineering and Enterprise Engineering, and contribute to knowledge and impact in the following areas:

Digitalization

I help organisations explore the opportunities and consequences of digitalization and exploitation of data for new value-producing opportunities. I aim to answer, “What Enterprise Capabilities and Enterprise Architectures are required to move to a digital business?” and “What are the barriers and enablers?” So far I have worked with organisations in the following industries: Energy, Rail, Insurance and Education.

Engineering Information-Intensive Ecosystems

I research the technologies and utilization of data that underpin digitalization practices, particularly for information-intensive sectors, organisations, or data-driven products and service offerings. I carry out horizon scans of cutting edge and industry practices and aim to answer, “How are different technology stacks, technical ecosystems and information architectures being developed, implemented and assessed in different industries?” and “Are there similarities or key differences, and what lessons can be learned?” For example, with the rapid adoption of data analytics and Machine Learning in many sectors, as well the development of Digitally Advanced Outcome-based Services, questions include, “What platformization strategies are useful?”, “What are the integration challenges?” and “How can companies adopt trustworthy and ethical practices with regard to the use of personal data?”

Systemic Design and Trans-disciplinary Engineering

Systemic Design is a practice that aims to transform engineers’ and designers’ approach to solving complex challenges that involve people across different disciplines and industries. I aim to contribute to this domain by incorporating Systemic Design and Trans-disciplinary Engineering approaches in my research approach and development projects. I aim to answer, “How can the practice and process of systems of systems (SoS) engineering incorporate Systemic Design methods to support the design and implementation of engineered systems, technology products, and service-based offerings?” and “Should engineers care about trans-disciplinary engineering practices?” and “How do you do requirements engineering for Systemic Design?”

Systems Validation and ‘what works’ Evaluation

Generally engineers are concerned with system verification, “Are we building the system right?” however, I am concerned with whole systems validation: “Are we building the right system?” The shifting challenges of complex systems implementation and policy direction means that it is particularly difficult to validate systems and the outcomes and consequences of such systems. I aim to answer the questions, “What evaluation and validation methods are best to evidence and evaluate what works, for whom in which context and why?” I use systems thinking and realist methodologies to understand real-world impact.

I am a member of the Advanced Virtually Reality Research Centre (AVRRC) and the Engineering Systems of Systems (ESoS) research group at Loughborough University, UK.

PhD Students

I supervise a number of PhD students, listed below. If you are interested undertaking a research degree in this area please get in touch to discuss potential topics.

• Iqra Shahzad – “Digital-first Primary Care: A Realist Evaluation using Soft Systems Methodology” (I am the Primary Supervisor with Prof M Henshaw as Co-Supervisor)

• Will Brown – “Intelligent systems in smart cities: Advancing co-design, citizen participation and systems engineering practices” (Primary Supervisor with Dr M Goh as Co-Supervisor)

• Demetrios Joannou – “A Model-Based Engineering Process to Explore Resilience Attributes of a System-of-Systems” (I am Co-Supervisor with Prof R Kalawsky as Primary Supervisor) – Graduated 2021.

• Johnny Cartucho – “Reducing errors in aircraft maintenance and assembly using Industry 4.0 technologies such as AR & Cyber-Physical systems” (I am Co-Supervisor with Prof R Kalawsky as Primary Supervisor)