Systems Thinking Among Engineering Students

Effective problem solving and decision making require the implementation of systems thinking. People with a high ability for systems thinking are better able to recognize patterns, relationships, and feedback loops in complex systems. This, in turn, enables them to foresee prospective challenges and find improvement opportunities. The goal of the study was to evaluate systems thinking among engineering students, so as to provide insight for educators that may help in the design of activities that integrate systems thinking both holistically and efficiently. Ninety-two students from the University of Texas at Tyler completed an anonymous self-report questionnaire on systems thinking. The data show that there are no significant differences amongst students depending on extrinsic characteristics. Specifically, the findings can be used to formulate suggestions for integrating systems thinking into various engineering curricula.