Definition of Systems Engineering

According to a popular misconception, systems engineering is a discipline in which professionals are responsible for repairing computers. In reality, the person who repairs a computer device is a maintenance technician and not a systems engineer.

What is a system and what is an engineering?

It is a set of elements or parts organized and related to each other that have a common objective. Thus, the solar system is made up of a series of planets related to each other.

By engineering we understand the application of scientific knowledge and techniques to improve processes and solve problems.

In this way, systems engineering is a discipline that provides solutions to all kinds of technological problems.

Systems engineering areas

The field of study of this discipline is very broad. In fact, there is the engineering of telecommunication, biological, audiovisual, electronic, business, network systems, etc. In all these areas, mathematics has a very relevant role as a theoretical foundation. In this sense, the theory of sets, principles of formal logic, equations, functions, logarithms, etc. are studied. On the other hand, English is the international language of this discipline.

In the field of computing

Among the subjects of systems engineering in the computing we can highlight the following:

1) architecture of computing, a subject in which it is known how a computer works,

2) operating systems, a section in which memory, processes, input and output of programs are studied and, ultimately, deals with all resources computer scientists,

3) algorithms, which allow performing the tasks of programming effectively,

4) computer networks, with which it is possible to know the different protocols of web programming and

5) the administration databases, knowledge that enables the classification of the information for any purpose.

Computer systems engineering makes it possible to meet the technological needs of a company. In this sense, professionals who are dedicated to it design applications for the Internet, improve the safety of information or focus on software development. All of this is applicable to sectors such as education, industry or telecommunications, among many others.

Photos: Fotolia - Reenya / Julia Tim