Dr Alan McLucas

BE(Hons) (UNSW), MMgtStud (UNSW), PhD (UNSW).

Senior Lecturer

Office

Room S204

Email

a.mclucas@adfa.edu.au

Phone

(+61) 2 62688332

Fax

(+61) 2 62688581

Mail

School of Information Technology
and Electrical Engineering
UNSW@ADFA
Australian Defence Force Academy
Northcott Drive
Canberra ACT 2600

Professional Qualifications

Chartered Professional Engineer, qtc

Membership of Institutions

Member, Institution of Engineers (Australia), Member Systems Engineering Society of Australia, Member System Dynamics Society

Professional Experience

Senior Lecturer, School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, UNSW@ADFA (2005 – present ). Senior Lecturer, School of Aerospace, Civil and Mechanical Engineering, UNSW@ADFA (2003 – 2005). Senior Lecturer, School of Civil Engineering, UNSW@ADFA (2001 – 2003). Principal Consultant Codarra Advanced Systems Pty Ltd., (Systems Engineering, Project Management, Risk Management and Information Systems), (1998 – 2001). Experiences as consulting engineer include managing communications projects for Government clients, contributing to and advising on military capability development, and conducting risk assessment studies. PhD Research (1998 - 2001). Visiting Military Fellow, University College, Australian Defence Force Academy (1997). Director of the Australian Technical Staff Centre, Australian Defence Force Academy (1996). Director of Army Trials, Defence Science and Technology Organisation (1994 – 1995). Project Director, Defence acquisition projects (1984 – 1987, 1992 – 1993). Army Staff Course, Division 1, Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham, UK (1983). Regimental appointments in Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (1973 – 1982). Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Alan McLucas, qtc, has extensive experience in engineering management, strategic decision-making, capability development, military technology, systems engineering, project management, and materiel acquisition.

Training and Teaching Experience

Experience in military training and training development (1980-1983), including qualified as Australian Army training instructor (TI) and training development officer (TDO). As Visiting Military Fellow and Director of Australian Technical Staff Centre, Australian Defence Force Academy, in 1996, delivered selected lectures in military technology, and managed the delivery of Australian Technical Staff Officers’ Course. During the period 1997 – 2001, as a sessional lecturer, delivered lectures in system dynamics modelling and project management at the postgraduate level. In 2001, was appointed Senior Lecturer at the University of New South Wales. Granted UNSW Teaching and Learning Award in 2003, and led a multi-disciplinary team in the development of multiple media, multi-mode (on-campus, intensive and distance) delivery of postgraduate coursework. Alan is experienced delivering courses in: Systems Thinking; Decision Making and Risk Management; Strategy Development; System Dynamics Modelling; Systems Engineering and Project Management; Project Administration, and Information Systems.

Research Interests

Further to PhD research, interests include investigating the integration of ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ variables as applicable to modelling of complex, dynamic systems in the fields of requirements engineering, systems engineering, project management, risk management and strategy development.

Consulting Interests

Facilitating workshops focusing on modelling for addressing complex, systemic problems with the aim of developing effective remedial strategies, especially involving cognitive mapping, systems thinking, system dynamics modelling, risk management, systems engineering, and project management. Application of systems thinking and system dynamics modelling to strategy development, management of complex projects, and strategic management of human resources.

Publications

Books: 2
Articles in refereed international journals: 5
International conference workshops: 1
Refereed seminar papers: 12
Theses: 3

Books

McLucas, A.C. 2003, ‘Decision Making: Risk Management, Systems Thinking and Situation Awareness,’ Argos Press, Canberra, Australia.

McLucas, A.C. 2005, ‘System Dynamics Applications: A Modular Approach to Modelling Complex World Behaviour,’ Argos Press, Canberra, Australia.

Journal Publications

McLucas, A.C. 1999, ‘Systems thinking and system dynamics modelling – aids to decision-making: A case study in reliability prediction,’ in: Journal of Battlefield Technology, Vol. 2, No. 2, July 1999.

McLucas, A.C. 2000, ‘Rectifying the failure to learn in complex environments,’ in: Journal of Battlefield Technology, Vol. 3, No. 3, November 2000.

McLucas, A.C. 2001, ‘Choice And Decision-Making In Engineering And Architecting Of Complex Systems’, in: Journal of Battlefield Technology, Vol. 4, No. 3, November 2001.

McLucas, A.C. 2002, ‘Dynamic Modelling To Aid Management of Military Capability’, in: Journal of Battlefield Technology, Vol. 5, No. 1, March 2002.

McLucas, A.C., and Ryan, M.J., 2005, ‘Combining Generic Structures and Systems Engineering to Manage Complexity in System Dynamics Modelling’, in: Journal of Battlefield Technology, Vol. 8, No. 3, November 2005.

Refereed Seminar Papers

McLucas, A.C., 1998, ‘Integrating soft and hard systems analysis: Seeking a practical framework for addressing strategic problems’, in: Proceedings of SE’98: Systems engineering pragmatic solutions to today’s real world problems, Systems Engineering Society of Australia, Oct 1998.

Linard, K. and McLucas A.C., 1999, ‘Addressing complexity and systemic behaviour in engineering management: A tutorial for real-life problems’, in: UICEE Proceedings of the 2nd Asia-Pacific Forum on Engineering & Technology Education, July 1999.

McLucas, A.C. 2000, ‘When to use qualitative or quantitative system dynamics techniques: guidelines derived from analysis of recent man-made catastrophes’, in: Proceedings of System Dynamics 2000, International System Dynamics Conference, The System Dynamics Society, Bergen, Norway, August 2000.

McLucas, A.C. and Linard K.T., 2000, ‘System dynamics practice in a non-ideal world: modelling Defence prepareness’, in: Proceedings of System Dynamics 2000, International System Dynamics Conference, The System Dynamics Society, Bergen, Norway.

McLucas, A.C., 2000, ‘To model or not to model’, in: Proceedings of International Conference of Systems Thinking in Management Conference, Deakin University, Australia, Nov 2000.

McLucas, A.C., 2000, ‘The worst failure – repeated failure to learn’, in: Proceedings of International Conference of Systems Thinking in Management Conference, Deakin University, Australia, November 2000.

McLucas, A.C., 2001, ‘Effects Based Planning,’ in: Proceedings of 2001 Defence Information Environment Seminar, Chief Knowledge Office, Department of Defence, Canberra, Australia, April 2001.

McLucas, A.C. 2002, ‘Improving causal mapping practice using the System Dynamics ‘Front End’ Tool’, in: Proceedings of System Dynamics 2002, International System Dynamics Conference, The System Dynamics Society, Palermo, Italy, August 2002 (forthcoming).

McLucas, A.C., and Paterson, D., 2002, ‘System Dynamics Modelling in Management of Military Capability,’ in: Proceedings of System Dynamics 2002, International System Dynamics Conference, The System Dynamics Society, Palermo, Italy, August 2002 (forthcoming).

Khan, N., McLucas, A.C., and Linard, K., 2004, ‘Development of a Reference Mode for Characterisation of Salinity Problem in Murray Darling Basin’. In: Proceedings of 2004 System Dynamics Conference, Oxford, UK, July.

McLucas, A.C., 2004, Transmogrification: From Causal Maps to Coded System Dynamics Models. In: Proceedings of Systems Engineering Test and Evaluation Conference, Adelaide, November, 2004

McLucas, A.C. and Ryan, M.J., 2005, ‘Meeting the real-world challenges in modelling complexity: what system dynamics modelling might learn from systems engineering’, in: Proceedings of International System Dynamics Conference, System Dynamics Society, Boston, July 2005.

Workshops

McLucas, A.C., 2005, ‘Group Model Building: A Modular Approach’, in: Proceedings of International System Dynamics Conference, System Dynamics Society, Boston, July 2005.

Theses

McLucas, A.C., 1976, ‘A Theoretical and Experimental Investigation of Machining with High Negative Rake Tools’, University of New South Wales.

McLucas, A.C., and Faucherand, S.G., 1983, ‘Post Weld Shock Loading of Maraging Steel and High Strength Aluminium’, Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham, UK.

McLucas, A.C., 2001, ‘An Investigation into the Integration of Qualitative and Quantitative Techniques for Addressing Systemic Complexity in the Context of Organisational Strategic Decision-Making,’ Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation, University of New South Wales, July 2001.

Theses Supervised

Barber, R., 2005, ‘A Risk Assessment Approach for Evaluating Maturity of Organisations in the Management of Projects,’ Doctor of Philosophy Thesis, University College, University of New South Wales at the Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra, Australia (current).

Brown, P., 2005, ‘System Dynamics Analysis of Software Development Projects,’ Doctor of Philosophy Thesis, University College, University of New South Wales at the Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra, Australia (current).

Khan, N., 2005, ‘Development of a Strategic System Dynamics Model of Dry Land Salinity,’ Doctor of Philosophy Thesis, University College, University of New South Wales at the Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra, Australia (current).