Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

Another fundamental question in systems engineering. Like the rest of the questions, ask with caution.

Ever ask the titular question at work? Ever ask it out loud and expect an answer? Perhaps you are a systems engineer. Perhaps your workplace needs a systems engineer.

The question seeks to find the reason behind daily life in the workplace. Surely we are doing something for some reason for some person. Right? Let’s hope so, but hope is often at odds with reality.

The question seeks to stop the busy-ness of the work day and start some contemplation, i.e., some thinking. Really folks, what ARE we doing here? Who is paying us? What do they want? How will our current activity lead to something of value for those paying the bills? Why do we ask questions like this that don’t seem to have obvious answers?

As with other fundamental questions, take care when asking. Try doing it quietly in small groups of no more than three persons at first. Some people take great offense at such questions.