SYSEN 5180

Sociotechnical Systems and Policy

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2024-2025.

This transdisciplinary course provides an in-depth learning experience on the fundamentals of sociotechnical systems, and welcomes students from all academic disciplines. Sociotechnical systems increase system complexity of engineered systems/technology, and this course teaches how to embrace them as part of systems engineering practice. An important dimension of sociotechnical systems is technology policy, and this course brings theory from social science disciplines and systems science together to evaluate how technical products interact with policy systems using systems engineering tools/analysis. Policy development, implementation and analysis in an engineering and technology context and its relationship with life cycle management, risk and quality are important themes in this course. There will be an application component to this class to illustrate the relevance for students from all backgrounds.

When Offered Fall.

Course Attribute (CU-SBY)

• Analyze engineered systems/technical products as embedded sociotechnical systems and their relationship to policy.
• Apply systems science to social science concepts and apply them in systems engineering tools and methods, including but not limited to: perception and identity; society and culture; and rural and urban spaces.
• Understand stakeholder engagement and how to practice inclusive, stakeholder-centric systems engineering and technology policy analysis.

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