Worldwide systems engineering

IBM systems engineering celebrates its 25th anniversary in 1985. This paper provides a perspective of the part systems engineering has played in the success of IBM in the information processing business during that 25-year period. The history of systems engineering is briefly reviewed, and the similarities and differences in worldwide systems engineer functions are examined. The relationships among marketing, systems engineering, and customers are discussed. Also discussed are career paths for systems engineers. Expectations and challenges for systems engineering in the future are explored.