Wondering what to read next? Ready to stimulate your brain with topics ranging from systems engineering to artificial intelligence? You’ve come to the right place.
This summer, we asked our MIT xPRO faculty for a list of readings that have impacted them and that MIT xPRO learners would benefit from checking out. They shared many great texts, from articles and essays to books and handbooks.
Get ready to find your next fulfilling read…
1. Dr. bruce g. cameron's recommended readings
Director, System Architecture Group, Senior Lecturer in System Design and Management, Faculty Director, Architecture and Systems Engineering Certificate
Lead instructor of MIT xPRO’s four-course program, Architecture and Systems Engineering: Models and Methods to Manage Complex Systems.
“Handbook of Model-Based Systems Engineering” by Azad M. Madni, Norman Augustine, and Michael Sievers
This handbook “brings together diverse domains and technical competences of Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) into a single, comprehensive publication.” Dr. Cameron co-wrote the chapter “Model-Based System Architecting and Decision-Making,” which “explore[s] the application of MBSE for conceptual system architecting.”
“An Updated Comparison of Four Low Earth Orbit Satellite Constellation Systems to Provide Global Broadband” by Nils Pachler, Inigo del Portillo, Edward F. Crawley, Bruce G. Cameron
“This paper provides an updated comparison of four of the largest LEO mega-constellations, namely Telesat’s, OneWeb’s, SpaceX’s, and Amazon’s, in terms of throughput estimation.”
2. Professor Olivier de Weck’s Recommended Readings
Apollo Program Professor of Astronautics, Professor of Engineering Systems, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Lead instructor of MIT xPRO’s project management course, Managing Complex Projects and Organizations for Success.
"Empires of the Sky" by Alexander Rose
This book discusses in vivid and historically accurate language the competition between airships (mainly the "Zeppelins") and fixed-wing aircraft as a means of long-distance transportation for mail, cargo, and especially human paying passengers.
At that time, it was not yet clear which modality of aircraft would eventually prevail. The author does a fantastic job explaining not only the economic and political but also the complex engineering and systems issues involved in creating and operating these complex flying machines.
“Handbook of Engineering Systems Design” by Anja Maier, Josepf Oehmen, and Pieter Vermaas
This major reference work recently published by Springer Nature is probably the most comprehensive modern treatise on Engineering Systems and Design since the famous 1980s work by Pahl and Baitz. This epic book contains over 30 chapters on Requirements, Complexity, Technological Evolution, and many other key topics. It is required reading for anyone interested in or responsible for complex systems.
3. Professor John Hart’s Recommended Readings
Department Head; Professor of Mechanical Engineering; Director, Laboratory for Manufacturing and Productivity; Director, Center for Advanced Production Technologies
Lead instructor of MITx PRO’s Additive Manufacturing for Innovative Design and Production course.
“It’s Time to Build” by Marc Andreessen
Renowned entrepreneur and venture investor Marc Andreesen’s essay discusses the importance of building the physical world (and manufacturing) to meet the needs of our everyday lives.
“Innovation in the 21st Century: Architectural Change, Purpose, and the Challenges of Our Time” by Rebecca Henderson
Harvard Professor Rebecca M. Henderson’s article explains the concept of Architectural Innovation and argues for the relevance of building teams and organizations with an authentic purpose to tackle challenges from manufacturing to building diversity.
4. Professor William Oliver’s Recommended Readings
Henry Ellis Warren (1894) Professor, Professor | Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Professor | Physics, Laboratory Fellow | Lincoln Laboratory, Director | Center for Quantum Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Faculty director of MIT xPRO’s Quantum Computing Fundamentals program.
“Quantum Computing for Business Leaders” by Jonathan Ruane, Andrew McAfee, and William D. Oliver
“This article examines the way quantum computers will not only upend digital security but spur investment, reshape industries, and spark innovation.”
5. Dr. Donna H. Rhodes’s Recommended Readings
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Principal Research Scientist, Sociotechnical Systems Research Center (SSRC), Director, Systems Engineering Advancement Research Initiative (SEAri)
Lead instructor of MIT xPRO’s Quantitative Methods in Systems Engineering course.
“Systems Engineering Vision 2035” by INCOSE
“The purpose of the ‘Systems Engineering Vision 2035’ is to inspire and guide the strategic direction of systems engineering across diverse stakeholder communities.
6. Professor daniela rus's recommended readings
Director, CSAIL, Andrew (1956) and Erna Viterbi Professor, EECS, Director, MIT-AF AI Accelerator
Instructor of MIT xPRO’s System Thinking course.
Professor Rus suggests the following references related to the broader AI context (which is impacting everyone and everything, including AI-driven computational design):
“Toward Comprehensive Risk Assessments and Assurance of AI-Based Systems” by Heidy Khlaaf
“FAQ on Catastrophic AI Risks” by Yoshua Bengio
“Stop Talking about Tomorrow’s AI Doomsday When AI Poses Risks Today” by Nature’s Editorial Team
7. Professor John Sterman’s Recommended Readings
Jay W. Forrester Professor of Management, Professor, System Dynamics and Engineering Systems, Director, MIT System Dynamics Group, MIT Sloan School of Management
Lead instructor of MIT xPRO’s five-week course, System Thinking.
“The Most Underrated Skill in Management” by Nelson P. Repenning, Don Kieffer, and Todd Astor
This MIT Sloan Management Review article outlines a vital skill for all managers, executives, and people in every walk of life: problem definition.
“Nobody Ever Gets Credit for Fixing Problems That Never Happened: Creating and Sustaining Process Improvement” by Nelson P. Repenning and John D. Sterman
This article uses system dynamics tools to describe the “capability trap” facing so many organizations today—and how to escape it.
Go Forth and Learn Something New
Learning is a lifelong pursuit, and there is such learning potential contained in these recommended readings. We hope you enjoy reading them.
If you’d like to continue your learning in an online classroom setting, be sure to check out the MIT xPRO courses taught by the instructors who contributed to this article. Browse the course catalog here!