Courses:

Course Info

• Course Number / Code:
• 3.56 (Fall 2008) 
• Course Title:
• Engineering Systems Analysis for Design 
• Course Level:
• Graduate 
• Offered by :
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
  Massachusetts, United States  
• Department:
• Engineering Systems Division 
• Course Instructor(s):
• Prof. Richard de Neufville 
• Course Introduction:
•  
• 
  
  ESD.71 / 1.146 / 3.56 / 16.861 Engineering Systems Analysis for Design
  
  
  
  

  Fall 2008

  
  
  

  
  
  

  Course Highlights

  
  
  

  
  
  ESD.71 / 1.146 / 3.56 / 16.861 Engineering Systems Analysis for Design
  
  
  
  

  Fall 2008

  
  
  

  

  Examples of large-scale engineering systems where flexible design can be valuable. (Bridge photograph is courtesy of Ric e Ette on Flickr; construction gantry photograph is courtesy of brewbooks on Flickr;International Space Station photograph is from NASA.)

  
  
  

  Course Description

  
  
  

  Engineering systems design must have the flexibility to take advantage of new opportunities while avoiding disasters. This subject develops "real options" analysis to create design flexibility and measure its value so that it can be incorporated into system optimization. It builds on essential concepts of system models, decision analysis, and financial concepts. Emphasis is placed on calculating value of real options with special attention given to efficient analysis and practical applications. The material is organized and presented to deal with the contextual reality of technological systems, that substantially distinguishes the analysis of real options in engineering systems from that of financial options.
  
  

  Note

  
  
  

  This MIT OpenCourseWare site is based on the materials from Professor de Neufville's ESD.71 Web site. Additional materials, updated as needed by Professor de Neufville, can be found there.