Today’s increasingly complex world requires engineers to innovate as never before. To have real impact, whether within a firm or society as a whole, engineers must not only develop technologically superior solutions, but also know how to think systemically and lead strategically.

In the 21st century, mastery of a wide range of interdisciplinary skills is needed to create effective, resilient solutions to complex problems. Today’s engineers must understand how to work individually and on teams. They must recognize critical factors that emerge along technical, organizational, and societal boundaries that can enable or preclude technological success. Moreover, they must apply careful analysis not only at the product level, but also within the technical and managerial context in which engineering and design challenges occur.

Engineering Systems Solutions to Real World Challenges is a seminar series co-sponsored by IBM and MIT’s Engineering Systems Division. Each seminar will show how today’s leaders and practitioners are using engineering systems and services sciences approaches to address complex problems. Drawing from real-life examples, the series will explain how these approaches were applied at IBM and other organizations, and demonstrate how to achieve breakthrough solutions that deliver sustained value to enterprises and society as a whole.