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This chapter is focused on the specification and integration of intercultural variables for human machine systems and the description of content analysis for these variables. Starting with basics of culture-oriented design, these are followed by an approach to machine localization issues and a cost model, then basics of the intercultural design and human machine system engineering process, a definition and specification of intercultural variables, a systematic treatment for their integration into the process, and a description of how to use these variables in the process. Finally, an example of an intercultural variables approach to “information coding” in a human-machine system is presented for China and Germany.

The digital transformation calls for new thinking about sociotechnical systems design (STSD) because it has enabled new kinds of work systems to proliferate. We identify a new class of sociotechnical system, called the Platform-STS (P-STS), which complements the existing Industrial- and Knowledge-STSs. The P-STS has distinctive characteristics compared to the other classes because it reaches directly into ecosystems and is, therefore, “distributed,” and because it is governed through market mechanisms rather than hierarchy or clan mechanisms. We introduce a new design principle, redundancy of connectivity, to ground design thinking about the P-STS. We demonstrate why fundamental STSD principles need to be reconfigured, suggest how they might do so, and conclude that socioecological designs and interventions may need to supplant sociotechnical ones.

In order for an information system (IS) to be sustainable, it must create value for its shareholders and for the society at large. We believe it is both possible and recommended that systems designers approach the design of systems thoughtfully, using a positive lens, to develop systems that not only increase profit but also add to the well-being of all. We have also observed that a systems designer can approach an organization with an open mind, accept the organization's set of values, adopt a positive design attitude, and still develop a system that is not sustainable. In this study, we looked to see whether there was an additional factor, one based in the environment created by governments that influenced the sustainability of systems. Since previous research shows that observing the predominant metaphors found in organizations can help explain the success or failure of different types of ISs, we attempted to do the same for societal metaphors. We identify the orientation, attitudes, and limits of various forms of government and demonstrate their similarities to the primary organizational metaphors. We then propose that the type of government may influence the sustainability of ISs and further argue that systems designers need to be aware of how forms of government affect the design of ISs and their sustainability.

The building industry, through its structure and its mandate, faces endemic information problems; expert systems are expected to impact positively. Expert systems are suited to situations of uncertainty; knowledge and reasoning are separated, allowing easier updating. Knowledge acquisition from human experts is difficult and problems of information reliability arise, suggesting the scope for cooperation between knowledge engineers and documentalists familiar with the domain. In building, prevailing conditions seem to indicate the appropriateness of expert systems, particularly during the design phase; however, written documentation and general research results are rarely consulted. This highlights the need for an information ‘refining’ stage between production and use. It is easier to set up expert systems for specialised sub‐domains; however, on‐going research is attempting to develop a comprehensive approach to project‐specific information that would be operational from initial design through to completed construction. Criteria for a comprehensive design information system can be listed.

The purpose of this paper is to bridge the gap between physical and metaphysical entities in the context of product/system design. The paper talks about the grey area of human psychology and presents a theoretical framework for the identification and selection of psychological attributes for designers.

On the basis of a literature review, this paper identifies various psychological attributes affecting the performance of designers in a team environment and then analyses the same.

The paper talks about a new shift in engineering design and designs for maintainability of mechanical systems.

A procedure based on the analytic hierarchy process method is applied. The developed procedure is useful in the assessment and selection of coveted psychological attributes for personnel in general and for designers in particular.

The paper highlights the immense role of psychology in engineering design, especially in the design for maintainability of mechanical systems. The paper will be useful to researchers, designers, maintenance personnel and professionals from the domain of engineering design, irrespective of their field of application. This paper is equally useful for human resource and management professionals/researchers.

The purpose of this paper is to establish a cyber physical environment for digital product design and manufacturing. To realize this goal, the specific issue of integrating design knowledge-based system (KBS) and 3D printing (3DP) system is focused. A graphics generation method is thereby developed to transform the KBS outputs into graphical format which can be directly read and manufactured by 3DP system.

A graphics generation method is proposed in this paper. Through organizing alphanumeric outputs of the consultation session with a design KBS into parametric format, the consultation results can be directly used by computer-aided design (CAD) tools to generate graphical models which can be further exported into a 3DP system to produce physical objects.

The proposed graphics generation method can be effective to link design KBS and 3DP. Therefore, the seamless connection between design and prototyping systems can be realized, which further lays the communication foundation for a cyber physical environment for digital design and manufacturing.

This study provides research insights about potential cyber physical system applications in digital design and manufacturing area. Moreover, this paper contributes an effective technique to integrate design KBS and 3DP.

The purpose of this paper is to present a novel modeling approach that combines a balanced systems engineering design model with a geospatial model to explore the complex interactions between natural hazards and engineered systems.

The approach taken in this work was to assemble a combined systems engineering design/geospatial model and interface it with a physics‐based hazard model to assess how to visualize the coupling of potential hazard effects from the physical domain into the functional/requirements domain.

It was demonstrated that it is possible to combine the two models and apply them to realistic hazard cases. A number of potential benefits are described and made possible by this approach including the generation of systems‐level damage assessments, the potential reduction of geo‐information data collection requirements, the incorporation of socio‐technical elements, the generation of functional templates, and the creation of a superior mitigation framework.

This approach offers a way to better understand natural hazard impacts on built systems, systemic effects of hazards, functional interdependencies between infrastructural elements, and a practical means to reduce geo‐information collection requirements.

The work is original in that it is the first time a balanced systems engineering design model has been made spatially aware and used to explore the impact of natural disasters on human systems. This work is valuable in that it directly addresses the shortcomings of spatial‐only approaches and could be used in data‐poor regions of the world.