Engineers are characterized as being problem solvers. This course gives a structure to problem solving and decision making, which is applicable irrespective of the discipline of study. It adopts a systems view to defining what problems and solutions are. The course treats the modelling of systems and how models are established, and synthesis or how systems are designed and decisions made. The course draws examples from all subject areas of civil and environmental engineering – structures, water, transport, construction and so on. It shows how seemingly different subject matter covered in these subject areas can be given a common framework.