A Publication Proposal of Complex
Aerospace Systems Exchange (CASE)
Outcomes
Context
Need and Opportunity
CASE events bring together a collection of experts from industry, academia, and government,
collectively encompassing a rich pool of experience and intellectual capital in the domain of complex
aerospace systems.
Recently CASE events have become very dynamic and engaging, with abundant participation by
attendees, and ample discussion between them. Session leads and “panelists” do not present to the
audience but rather help guide and mediate exchange of ideas and sharing of insight.
The output of each of these CASE events is a high-value high-impact body of knowledge that extends
well beyond the mere collection of thoughts. Many ideas are developed “live” during the events as a
result of meaningful discussions.
Unfortunately this body of knowledge has not been recorded in a consistent and rigorous fashion.
Records are typically limited to the notes taken by individuals for their own use. In some instances
assigned note-takers collect thoughts for future reference with the intent of developing and refining a
final overview narrative, say in the form of a white paper. However, the final step may not always be
completed, or the completed manuscript does not benefit from sufficiently broad dissemination
because it is not published as a conference or journal manuscript.
At the same time, there is a significant and urgent need by the complex aerospace systems community,
and the complex systems / complexity community at-large, for high-quality referenceable material that
encapsulates recent and ongoing developments in this rapidly evolving field. In particular, a body of
work addressing the maturation of theoretical foundations, identification of successful practices in real
applications, and bridging the gap between the two, is sought.
Precedent: CASE-related Publications
There have been noteworthy prior efforts to generate published referenceable materials resulting from
CASE events. An edited volume on system complexity, scheduled to go to press this fall, is largely
comprised of chapters authored by CASE 2014 academics.
A CASE 2015 overview article has been provided for the TAC newsletter, and a separate article has been
developed by CASE 2015 academics for an upcoming issue of Aerospace America.
CASE Publication Proposal
Target Publications
This proposal targets the development of written manuscripts as a formal CASE outcome for publication
through AIAA. Two publication forms are currently considered: peer-reviewed papers compiled in a
special issue of a suitable AIAA journal, and an edited volume in the AIAA Progress Series.
A journal special issue is perceived as a more immediately attainable outcome and is therefore proposed
first. The expectation is that the first iteration (CASE 2016) will allow for the identification of challenges
and opportunities that can be applied as lessons-learned onto future iterations, particularly in terms of
integrating CASE planning and execution with the development of the special issue. The journal to which
the special issue will be proposed will reflect thematic alignment with CASE topics. For instance, the
outcome of CASE @ SPACE 2016 can be vectored to the Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets. The outcome
of CASE @ AVIATION 2017 can be vectored to the Journal of Aircraft. Instances of CASE @ SCITECH in
the future can be directed to the AIAA Journal.
The development of an edited volume is approached as a longer term goal that would build upon the
content and development experience of a journal special issue. Risk management for the formal
proposal of an edited volume will be predicated on the demonstrated success of compiling a
thematically integrated collection of manuscripts of peer-review quality, namely the journal special
issue. Starting with the second iteration (CASE 2017) manuscripts produced will be developed directly
into chapters of and edited volume for the AIAA Progress Series. Development of a journal special issue
may be pursued for this second iteration as well, but as an intermediate publication that would be
ultimately transformed into an edited volume.
Scope and Topics
The thematic scope of the proposed publications follows that which has been successfully realized at
CASE in prior years, featuring an overarching and unifying theme that is also critical in journal special
issues and edited books. CASE at SPACE 2012, AVIATION 2013, and SPACE 2014 featured three primary
tracks:
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Complex Systems Development
Integration, Test, and Verification of Complex Systems
Program Management to Achieve Robust and Resilient Systems
At AVIATION 2015 CASE had a much stronger presence than in prior years, with a more detailed
breakdown of life-cycle phases as well as sessions dedicated to academic matters, current needs, and
applications:
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Academic Roundtable
Whatever Happened to the Four-Year Airplane?
Applied Complexity Workshop
Session I – Concept Development of Complex Systems
Session II – Product Design for Complex Systems Across the Supply Chain
Session III – Integration and Test
Session IV – Entry into Service / End of Life
System Complexity: Government Needs and Practical Research Results
The thematic scope of the proposed publication aims to address the following topics:
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Complex Systems in Aerospace
System Complexity Needs in Government, Industry, and Academia
Foundations and State of the Art of Complex Systems Theory
Bridging the Gap between Theory and Applied Complexity
Concept Exploration and Development of Complex Systems
Design and Production of Complex Systems across the Supply Chain
Integration, Verification, Transition, and Validation of Complex Systems
Operation, Support, and Retirement of Complex Systems
Complex Systems Cross-cutting Case Studies
Organizational Structure of a Systems Engineering Organization
Cultural Changes associated with increasing complexity of organizations and products
For topics focusing on complex system life-cycle phases, the following sub-topics will be addressed for
each phase or group of phases:
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What are current challenges and salient issues? Shortcomings of existing methods and tools?
Phase-specific needs?
What existing bodies of work pertain to these challenges and their potential solutions? Transdisciplinary approaches? Prior work/research?
What recent solutions, approaches, and coping skills have shown some measure of success?
What are some promising avenues? What additional work or research is warranted?
What links can be made, if any, between theoretical foundations and practice-oriented
solutions?
Real-world examples or case studies illustrating concepts
Integration into Current CASE Planning and Execution
Development of the proposed publication is aimed as an integral part of CASE planning and execution
that leverages significantly on the current framework and presents no new disruptive changes. The
bulleted list below roughly outlines the current process and highlights the activities specific to the
generation of written materials for publication.
Timeline: Early Planning, 9 months prior to CASE
Publication Activity and Interaction with CASE: CASE Publication proposal, to be iterated upon and
approved by CASE leads. Discussion with editor in chief of potential journals to identify suitable
publication and establish support from editor.
Timeline: Early Planning, 9-6 months prior to CASE
CASE Activity: CASE Executive Committee identifies themes, overarching topic, and general session
structure.
Publication Activity and Interaction with CASE: CASE events (sessions, panels, etc.) that can be directly
associated to a manuscript (ideally all) are identified. Support the identification of session leads so that
there are multiple co-chairs, including one from industry and one from academia. Indicate up-front goal
of producing a high-quality manuscript, suitable for successful peer review. (Editorial task) In
coordination with CASE ExCom and Technical Chair, work with potential session chairs to establish
thematic cohesiveness between sessions, while allowing each enough flexibility to be handled
separately.
Timeline: 6 months prior to CASE to CASE event
CASE Activity: CASE Technical Chair identifies session leads, coordinates session planning
Publication Activity and Interaction with CASE: Support CASE ExCom, Technical Chair, and session cochairs in the planning of sessions. Emphasis on development of context, review of background material
and prior work, as well as early identification of key questions, challenges, promising solutions, all to be
used for CASE session materials but also suitable for manuscript. Manuscript outline with first draft of
front-matter sections completed prior to CASE event. Emphasis also on what questions will be asked of
the session participants, how input will be collected or recorded, role and involvement of
panelists/experts, etc.
Timeline: CASE event
CASE Activity: CASE sessions take place, co-leads develop content “live” and collect input. May
incorporate means to collect information after event from participants.
Publication Activity and Interaction with CASE: Support session chairs and Technical Chair, for instance,
as note-takers of CASE events.
Timeline: 1-2 weeks after CASE
CASE Activity: De-brief
Publication Activity and Interaction with CASE: Support post-event briefing, engage with session chairs
regarding any unforeseen challenges or issues in the execution of the event, collection of information
and input, and anticipated issues working on finalizing the manuscript. Re-assess publication timeline
goals as needed.
Timeline: 1-3 months after CASE
CASE Activity: NONE
Publication Activity and Interaction with CASE: Work with manuscript authors, support writing activities,
review early drafts, editing for thematic cohesiveness identifying connection points between
manuscripts. Keep journal editor updated and advice on impending submission of manuscripts. Conduct
regular calls with manuscript authors. Report updates to CASE ExCom.
Timeline: 3 months after CASE
CASE Activity: NONE
Publication Activity and Interaction with CASE: Target date for manuscript submission to journal.
Conduct editing duties managing technical review, copy-editing, production and publication. Report
updates to CASE ExCom.
Timeline: All papers accepted, in-press (~1 year after CASE, next-year’s CASE)
CASE Activity: Advertise in “next year” CASE the publication of the special issue.
Publication Activity and Interaction with CASE: Submit proposal to AIAA Progress Series
Proposal Leads
Hernando Jimenez, Ph.D.
Dr. Jimenez is research faculty at the Georgia Institute of Technology Daniel Guggenheim School of
Aerospace Engineering. He is research engineer at the Aerospace Systems Design Laboratory where he
leads the UAS-NAS Integration Branch. Dr. Jimenez currently serves as the chair of the Aircraft Design
Technical Committee, Co-chair of the Aerospace Systems Integration Working Group, and part of the
leadership team of the AIAA Diversity Working Group. He led and co-chaired CASE Session II Integration
and Test at AVIATION 2015, and is currently working on a journal manuscript reporting outcomes and
findings from said session. Dr. Jimenez has authored chapters in edited books, and is currently editing a
special issue of the Journal of Aerospace Operations.
Prof. Shannon Flumerfelt
Dr. Flumerfelt is an Endowed Professor of Lean and an Associate Professor of Organizational Leadership
at Oakland University’s School of Education and Human Services. She has served as an education
specialist and socio-technical specialist to the engineering community for several years. Dr. Flumerfelt is
a co-founder of the CASE Academics and has chaired the CASE Academic for two years where she has
facilitated faculty explorations on “What is systems engineering?” and “What are best organizational
practices for systems management?” As a result, an edited volume (Springer) on systems complexity is
in press, and an article and newsletter have been produced summarizing the thought leadership of the
CASE Academics on these two questions. Dr. Flumerfelt has published five books or chapters, three
independent books, over 40 articles, served as an editor of a scholarly journal and has developed two
virtual simulations. She is often an invited speaker, presenter and workshop facilitator.