1. Systems Engineering A Management Perspective Goddard Space Flight Center Systems Engineering Colloquium January 7, 2003

2. Points Systems engineering denotes different things to different peopleSystems engineering denotes different things to different people Systems engineering is critical to mission and programmatic successSystems engineering is critical to mission and programmatic success Non-technical factors inhibit the growth of a robust systems engineering capabilityNon-technical factors inhibit the growth of a robust systems engineering capability Continuously Improving the Center’s systems engineering capability is a challenging and important task for the Goddard TeamContinuously Improving the Center’s systems engineering capability is a challenging and important task for the Goddard Team

3. Systems Engineering Systems Engineering Source: Encarta Encyclopedia Source: Encarta Encyclopedia 1.Systems Engineering 1.Systems Engineering “Systems Engineering, an approach to engineering that emphasizes the scientific method and examination of all aspects of the engineering project” “Systems Engineering, an approach to engineering that emphasizes the scientific method and examination of all aspects of the engineering project”

4. Systems Engineering Scope Mission Design and System Requirements tradesMission Design and System Requirements trades System Design and AnalysisSystem Design and Analysis System and Operations Development Technical ManagementSystem and Operations Development Technical Management

5. System Engineering Product Ensuring within an acceptable risk level Ensuring within an acceptable risk level the delivery of a cost and technically the delivery of a cost and technically effective system to meet an objective effective system to meet an objective

6. Systems Engineering is Critical to Mission and Programmatic Success Mission Design Choices System Design Evaluation System Design Evaluation System & Operations Development Technical Management and integration

7. Mission Design Requirements Analysis and Architecture Development Understanding of mission & architecture design alternativesUnderstanding of mission & architecture design alternatives –mission success metrics –relative mission & programmatic risks versus cost Enabling technologyEnabling technology –options, maturity & risks Understanding of residual risks at launchUnderstanding of residual risks at launch –stakeholder buy-in at inception Stability of requirementsStability of requirements –thorough conceptual studies lead to more robust PDR

8. Design and Analysis Design and Analysis Evaluate and ensure design choices meet mission and programmatic requirementsEvaluate and ensure design choices meet mission and programmatic requirements –System –ConOps Analyze performance requirements versus design marginsAnalyze performance requirements versus design margins Identify risk retirement profileIdentify risk retirement profile Identify residual mission and system risks and develop mitigation planIdentify residual mission and system risks and develop mitigation plan

9. Technical Management Requirements and interface managementRequirements and interface management Risk management and retirement trackingRisk management and retirement tracking –technology maturity –impact of environment changes acceptability of risk Test and verification plan and requirements verification and validation trackingTest and verification plan and requirements verification and validation tracking –interface integration and validation –illities oversight

10. Non-technical factors inhibit growth of a robust systems engineering capability Project staffed versus engineering discipline baseProject staffed versus engineering discipline base Prime and/or institutional contractsPrime and/or institutional contracts Systems engineer as the technical leader versus processorSystems engineer as the technical leader versus processor Flight and ground versus system organization & contract structuresFlight and ground versus system organization & contract structures Center capability or Project unique investmentCenter capability or Project unique investment Funded via overhead or Program/Project TaxFunded via overhead or Program/Project Tax Investment in Civil Servants versus ContractorInvestment in Civil Servants versus Contractor Without a good systems engineering process the system architecture and design tends to reflect the organizationWithout a good systems engineering process the system architecture and design tends to reflect the organization

11. Challenges Challenges Attracting and developing systems engineersAttracting and developing systems engineers Establishing Institutional systems engineering capability funding mechanismsEstablishing Institutional systems engineering capability funding mechanisms Managing the right balance of investments in institutional and project developed systems engineering capabilitiesManaging the right balance of investments in institutional and project developed systems engineering capabilities Leveraging major Goddard Prime Contractor systems engineering processes and toolsLeveraging major Goddard Prime Contractor systems engineering processes and tools

12. Improving systems engineering capability is important Provides Skill Base, Processes and Tools to: Maintain and improve systems development process and continue to deliver on the Center’s mission success and programmatic commitmentsMaintain and improve systems development process and continue to deliver on the Center’s mission success and programmatic commitments Ensure systems engineering discipline in new mission formulationEnsure systems engineering discipline in new mission formulation Develop new innovative and cost effective missions and technologyDevelop new innovative and cost effective missions and technology Improve both Civil Service and support Contractor capabilities and residual knowledge baseImprove both Civil Service and support Contractor capabilities and residual knowledge base Improve the mission design process, requirements management and resulting Prime contract performanceImprove the mission design process, requirements management and resulting Prime contract performance

13. Closing Systems engineering is critical to mission and programmatic success and needs to lead the technical development processSystems engineering is critical to mission and programmatic success and needs to lead the technical development process Pro active managing of non technical institutional and project system engineering obstacles is essential to developing a robust systems engineering capabilityPro active managing of non technical institutional and project system engineering obstacles is essential to developing a robust systems engineering capability Continuously Improving the Center’s systems engineering capability is a challenging and important task for the Goddard TeamContinuously Improving the Center’s systems engineering capability is a challenging and important task for the Goddard Team