Our Complex Systems Toolkit teaching resource “Using fault tree analysis in a rail failure investigation” explores rail accident investigation and material failure analysis using systems thinking.
It poses a challenge for learners to use Fault Tree Analysis to map possible causes, evaluate data, and produce an expert opinion report — knowing that their conclusions could influence legal outcomes and public safety decisions. It addresses related INCOSE Competencies and AHEP 4 themes.
Resource author Dr. Ewa Ura-Bińczyk had this to say about the Toolkit and the value of teaching systems thinking: “In engineering we often move from the general to the specific, immersing ourselves in narrow areas of expertise. Yet real-world problems are rarely isolated — they are multi-layered, interconnected and shaped by factors that stretch across disciplines. In my teaching, I encourage students to recognise these connections, to look at a problem from different angles and to integrate insights from diverse fields. This is why I value the Complex Systems Toolkit — it supports educators in guiding students to truly understand the complexity of the world we all design and operate within.”
We’ve provided this and other practical Teaching resources, Knowledge articles and Guidance articles for you to use and adapt, and to make it simple for you to embed complex systems concepts into your teaching.
Want to get involved with the Complex Systems Toolkit? Find out more here.
