by Kota Konishi SDM ’24
On November 7, 2024, MIT’s System Design and Management (SDM) program hosted its annual Systems Night at MIT. This year’s event featured a distinguished panel moderated by Nicholas Borge SDM ’20, strategy and operations lead at IBM Research. This discussion focused on applying system thinking principles and practices to complex software systems.
Panelists included Charlotte Wang SDM ’10, CEO of EQuota Energy; John Hajdukiewicz SDM ’05, founder and principal of Outcome Design Lab; and Douglas Hamilton SDM ’14, head of AI research and engineering at NASDAQ. They shared their experiences in managing and overseeing complex software systems in the real world through the lens of systems thinking.
During the panelists’ brief introductions, several terms frequently used in SDM core classes emerged, giving SDM students a sense of how their learning applies to the real world. Nicholas stressed the importance of system thinking, noting, “Now we’re at an age where systems are more critical than ever because we have more data, and everything is coming together at the systems level.”
The panel discussion began with the question of how system thinking education and experience helped the panelists to approach challenges. Douglas said that “system thinking is all about how we bridge the gap between cyber systems and physical systems, between engineering solutions and financial solutions.” He emphasized that while many people excel at designing better models, few truly understand how those models can lead to meaningful impacts for their clients. Johnshared that he recognized the value of the SDM program while working on a connected aircraft project in 2013. He had to align the efforts of 40 engineers managing individual product lines. The tools he learned in SDM helped him bridge the gap between architecture, roadmapping, and business and financial aspects across the organization. This alignment enabled him to deliver products to the market at the right time and with the right features. Charlotte explained how she leverages systems thinking not only to solve problems but also to find balance in the area of technology policy. She described how systems thinking helps her figure out the triangle of competing priorities in policy decisions. She noted that she still refers back to her SDM class notes whenever needed.
The discussion then shifted to the tension between the “build it right the first time” approach and the “build it in the open, get feedback, and refine it” strategy. Douglas emphasized the importance of getting feedback early and refining the system based on that feedback, citing his AI-powered software project. John experienced the transition to an agile approach in the aerospace industry, where careful development is essential because some components directly impact human safety. To address this, they adopted a hybrid process. Critical components were developed outside the agile framework and underwent thorough refinement until they reached the appropriate technology readiness level. Only then did they initiate the agile process, enabling them to balance rapid iteration with meticulous development.
Next, the panel discussed dealing with regulations, a constraint to realize innovation. “Regulations actually slow down the adoption of disruptive technologies,” Charlotte said, based on her involvement with energy-related regulations in China. From her perspective, it is crucial to create an environment through regulation that supports game-changers and innovators in driving necessary changes while promoting competition. To achieve this, she works to quickly relay real-world insights from clients to policymakers, helping to address regulatory delays and other issues.
The final topic was engineering leadership within an environment of increasing uncertainty. Charlotte emphasized that leading an engineering team requires staying true to oneself and one’s vision while delivering results and taking pride in one’s work. Douglas added that we need to articulate a meaningful and exciting vision of where we can lead our industry with a system view. John highlighted the challenges of leading an engineering team, noting that individuals have different personalities, strengths, and weaknesses. He stressed the importance of explaining why certain actions are taken, aligning everyone’s efforts, and leveraging each individual’s strengths to effectively lead the team.
Systems Night provided networking opportunities both before and after the panel session. This event is one of the signature gatherings that highlights the ever-growing SDM community.
