A Complete
Approach to Systems
Engineering
Becky Reed, ESEP
Bill LaMarsh, Ph.D.
Reed Integration, Inc.
SEDC Conference
April 2014
Copyright 2014 Reed Integration Inc
All Rights Reserved
Abstract
In 2009, Money Magazine® listed Systems Engineer (SE) as the
#1 job in America. SE was not in the top 10 Best Jobs for the
next 3 years on the same list. Why is this? Two key areas have
contributed to the SE competency being removed from this
list. First, SE has not been defined and promoted as a
complete, holistic view of a system. This system of interest
does not have to be a multi-year complex solution. It can be
something simple where functional requirements and an
architectural approach is needed. Too often, SEs have become
associated with Information Technology (IT) solutions
exclusively – the assumption is this arena is the only domain
where “architectural” solutions are needed.
Copyright 2014 Reed Integration Inc
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Page 2
About Becky
Reed Integration, Inc.
Coastal Virginia & DC Region
• President and CEO
• Expert Systems Engineering Professional (ESEP), INCOSE - 2010
• Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP), INCOSE - 2004
• 8(a), SDB, WOSB, EDWOSB
• Technical and Management Services: SE, PM, Acquisition SE, Process
Improvement
• Reed Learning Institute: PMP®/CSEP Prep, Professional Certificate Programs,
Custom Training Programs
Previous Life
MORGAN Research Corporation, Huntsville, AL and Hampton Roads, VA
Program Development Manager, Science & Engineering Programs
Systems Eng & Integration WBS Manager, ISS microgravity research project
BWX Technologies, Inc., Lynchburg, VA & Livermore, CA
Systems Engineering Manager, Separator Engineering Group, LLNL
Lead Integration Engineer, medical isotope target manufacturing project
Systems Engineer, Accelerator and Magnet Systems Division
Boeing consultant/Computer Sciences Corporation, Huntsville, AL
Information Systems Engineer for MSFC Propulsion Lab; PrISMS contract
Grumman Aerospace Corporation, Huntsville, AL
Lead Systems Engineer, Space Station Freedom Program
Copyright 2014 Reed Integration Inc
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Page 3
About Bill
Reed Integration, Inc.
Director of the Reed Learning Institute:
• Project/Program Management
•
Fundamentals, Advanced Topics, PMP® Prep
•
Fundamentals, Life Cycle Processes, CSEP Prep
•
Teambuilding, Technical Management
•
Cyber Systems, Security Requirements
•
PWS/SOW/SOO Development, Acquisition Engineering
• Systems Engineering
• Leadership
• Security
• Acquisition
Previous Life
IT Contractor at NASA Langley Research Center Hampton Roads, VA
Project Manager supporting Information Technology (IT) solutions. Areas of support
include web design, Systems Administration, Financial Systems, IT Security, and Architecture
Design.
Symantec Corporate Hampton Roads, Va.
Lead Architect on PCAnywhere and other products.
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Page 4
 Reed Integration has performed Systems Engineering
process assessments for Federal and Commercial
organizations.
 The assessments use the INCOSE Handbook as the best practice
benchmark.
 Participation in many different Systems Engineering
Groups.
 Assessments and relationships are demonstrating a few
consistent gap areas.
Let’s get back to the basics!
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Page 5
Organizational ProjectEnabling Processes
Project Processes
Infrastructure
Management
Life Cycle Model
Management
Configuration
Management
Risk Management
Information
Management
Measurement
Process
Guidelines
Technical Processes
Human Resource
Management
Quality
Management
Decision
Management
Project Assessment &
Control
Project Planning
Project Portfolio
Management
Requirements
Analysis
Stakeholders
Requirements Definition
Architectural
Design
Integration
Implementation
Agreement Processes
Verification
Transition
Validation
Acquisition
Operation
Maintenance
Supply
Disposal
INCOSE SE Handbook v3.2.2 Chapter 1.3
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Page 6
Per the International Council on Systems Engineering
(INCOSE) Handbook:
An integrated set of elements that accomplish a defined
objective. These elements include products (hardware, software,
firmware), processes, people, information, techniques, facilities,
services, and other support elements.
From Webster’s New Dictionary of the
English Language:
A group of units so combined as to form a
whole and to operate in unison.
*Photo courtesy of NG Mission Systems
Copyright 2014 Reed Integration Inc
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What is Systems Engineering?



An integrated approach to engineering
and managing a system
Takes all aspects of a system (sometimes
a project) into consideration to ensure an
integrated, quality product!
Some aspects of a managing a system:





Operational Scenarios / Environments
Requirements / User Needs
Architecture
Interfacing systems
Safety Issues
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Page 8
What is Systems Engineering?
Define and understand the
problem before you solve it!!!
Copyright 2014 Reed Integration Inc
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 Image of being a documentation/process career path.
 Often noted as an “IT Role”, vs. traditional
engineering support.
 Difficult to quantify WHY SE processes are so
important:
 Cost/Risk avoidance.
 Perceived as expensive.
 Standard processes get in the way.
 Viewpoint of “someone else’s responsibility”.
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 Most customers do not utilize Functional
Analysis in technical processes.
 Incorrect Assumptions:
 Team already *knows* what the requirements are.
 Functional Analysis takes too long.
 True engineering uses hard requirements, not
functional use case scenarios.
 Generally excluded from traditional
engineering discipline courses.
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Page 11
 Tailoring approach varies.
 Many Assumptions:
 Tailoring is good for large projects but not for small
projects.
 Tailoring implies you know all the processes.
 Lack of understanding allows one to tailor
out anything that is unknown.
 If there are no standard processes/
templates, how do we tailor?
 Difficult to determine what to tailor, so reuse
previous processes and move on!
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 Most companies/projects generate Lessons
Learned.
 Few people ever use this information:
 Our project is different.
 That information is too old.
 They tailored out what I need.
 I cannot find the data I am looking for.
 Leads to … lots of rework/relearning!
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 Projects rely heavily on SMEs.
 Research has shown:
 SMEs are usually expensive.
 Became experts based upon their specific
application of knowledge (can be industry specific).
 Usually added when a project is in trouble.
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 What is Systems Engineering?
 Project Managers of Technical Project.
 Historically they are Chief Engineers/Lead
Engineers.
 Engineers who are multidisciplinary.
 Also noticed:
 Limited training and/or career track for Systems
Engineers.
 Excellent communication skills required.
 Inconsistency across industry/government with
roles.
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 Everywhere!
 Systems Thinking/the SE framework applies to
different organizations.
 Example: presented a this approach to an IT Security problem
at a recent INCOSE conference – overwhelming agreement
from the audience.
 SE is not just for large and complex problems!
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Page 16
16
 SE is a unique field.
 Assessment allows an organization to benchmark their SE
solutions.
 Education/training is needed on applications and value!
 Systems Engineering allows for creative and innovative
solutions.
 Need to start back at the basics and defining the system of
interest, stakeholders, functions!
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Page 17
Commercial:
Reed Integration, Inc.
Services
•
•
•
•
•
Acquisition Systems Engineering
Systems Engineering Office Setup / Support
Program / Project Management Office Setup / Support
Process Maturity Assessments
Risk Processes Development and Implementation
Private On-Site Training
•
•
Customized course content
Delivered anywhere in US
Staff Augmentation / Mentoring
•
•
•
•
Certifications
 8(a) through 2016
 WOSB/EDWOSB
 Small Disadvantaged
Business
 SWAM (Virginia)
 PMI Registered
Education Provider
(R.E.P.)
PMI Certified Project Managers
INCOSE Certified Systems Engineers
Risk Managers
Analysts
Academic Partner Training
•
•
•
Old Dominion University
Florida Institute of Technology
Virginia Community College System
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Page 18
Thank You!!
• Thanks for attending!
• Keep in touch:
Becky Reed, ESEP
President/CEO
rreed@reedintegration.com
Office: 757-638-3238
Cell: 757-338-3238
Dr. Bill LaMarsh, PMP, CISSP
Director, Reed Learning Institute
blamarsh@reedintegration.com
Office: 757-541-8033
Cell: 757-810-5971
www.reedintegration.com
Copyright 2014 Reed Integration Inc
All Rights Reserved