A framework for complex system development

Industry, government, and academic efforts to create a generalized systems engineering process have repeatedly fallen short. The outcome? Systems engineering failures that produce losses like the September 1999 destruction of the Mars Climate Orbiter. A simple information transfer error between teams motivated far-reaching managerial and technical changes at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory-evidence of systems engineering complexity. Struck by the amount of chaos that can quickly develop from such intricacy, the author has devoted several years to the development and refinement of the framework delineated in this work to help you "control the chaos".A Framework for Complex System Development develops a generalized process that distinguishes between "time" and "logical" domains-how I/O evolves over time versus the instantaneous program state. Explicitly characterized and identified, they preserve the framework. By combining these views, you get an application specific process, versatile enough for many different contexts. It also defines the technical activities that constitute the system development process and how they connect and interact with managerial activities. You will be able to integrate these activities and realize the maximum potential for success. A key element to success in today's paradigm of "faster, better, cheaper" systems and decreasing resource levels is a clear, workable plan that can be easily implemented. A Framework for Complex System Development illustrates such a plan, distilling the essential aspects of system design into a logical process for a well-organized development program. With A Framework for Complex System Development, you can use the author's approach-developed in the crucible of the real world-to develop sound complex systems in an organized and efficient manner. A Framework for Complex System Development 1 Abstract 3 Preface 4 Acknowledgments 6 Dedication 8 Contents 9 Tables and Figures 12 Tables 12 Figures 12 Acronym List 15 A Framework for Complex System Development 18 Contents -1 Chapter 1: Introduction 18 I. Is a Structured Approach Needed? 18 II. Technical and Managerial — Integration is Essential 19 III. Motivation 19 IV. Objectives 20 V. Key Questions 21 VI. “System” Defined in the Literature 21 VII. Working Definition of “System” 22 A Framework for Complex System Development 24 Contents -1 Chapter 2: Literature Search and Rationale for this Book 24 I. Existing and Emerging Standards 24 II. Individual Works 24 III. The Basic Building Block 26 IV. Unique Features of this Book 28 A. Time and Logical Domains 28 B. Tier Connectivity 28 C. Modularity 29 D. Coupling of Technical and Managerial Activities 29 E. Clear Presentation of Functional Decomposition 29 F. Explicit Inclusion of the Rework Cycle 29 G. Explicitly Defined Generalized Outputs 29 A Framework for Complex System Development 30 Contents -1 Chapter 3: System Development Framework (SDF) Overview 30 I. Two Views Needed for an Accurate Model 31 A. Rationale 31 B. An Illustration 31 II. Time and Logical Domain Views Provide a Full Program Description 33 A. Time Domain Focus: Inputs and Outputs 33 B. Logical Domain Focus: Energy Expenditure 34 III. The SDF in the Logical Domain 35 A. Control Logic 35 B. Hierarchy 35 C. Modularity 36 D. Closed Loop 36 E. Traceability 36 F. Comprehensiveness 36 G. Convergence 37 H. Risk 37 IV. The SDF in the Time Domain 38 A. Incremental Solidification 38 B. Risk Tolerance Defines Scope 39 C. Time-Phased Outputs 39 V. System Life Cycle 40 A Framework for Complex System Development 42 Contents -1 Chapter 4: The Rework Cycle 42 I. What Is The Rework Cycle? 42 II. A Simple System Dynamics Model 46 III. Rework Mitigation 55 A Framework for Complex System Development 58 Content -1 Chapter 5: System Development Framework — Technical 58 I. Develop Requirements — Determine “What” the System Must Do 59 A. Inputs 61 B. Work Generation Activities 63 1. Derive Context Requirements 63 2. Generate Functional Description 66 3. Digression: Why Functional Analysis? 73 C. Rework Discovery Activities 74 1. Analyze Requirements 74 2. Analyze Functional Description 75 II. Synthesis 78 A. Work Generation Activities: Design and Integration 79 1. Design 79 2. Analysis 84 3. Allocation 85 4. Functional Decomposition 90 5. Inter-Level Interface 98 6. Integration 98 B. Rework Discovery Activities: Design Verification 99 1. Analysis and Test 100 2. Producibility, Testability, and Other Specialty Engineering Activities 100 III. Trade Analysis 101 IV. Optimization and Tailorability 103 A. Optimization 103 B. Tailorability 105 V. The Integrated System Development Framework 105 A Framework for Complex System Development 109 Contents -1 Chapter 6: The System Development Framework — Managerial 109 I. Integrating Technical and Managerial Activities 109 II. Developing the Program Structure 109 III. Interaction in the Logical Domain 113 IV. Interaction in the Time Domain 114 V. A Note on Complexity 116 VI. Major Milestone Reviews 117 VII. What About Metrics? 119 A Framework for Complex System Development 120 Contents -1 Chapter 7: A Potpourri of SDF-Derived Principles 120 I. General 120 II. Risk 120 III. Functional Analysis 121 IV. Allocation 121 V. Process 122 VI. Iteration 123 VII. Reviews 123 VIII. Metrics 123 IX. Twenty “Cs” to Consider 124 X. Suggestions for Implementation In Industry 124 A Framework for Complex System Development 126 Contents -1 Appendix A: Small Product Development and the SDF 126 I. Mapping in the Logical Domain 126 II. Mapping In the Time Domain 126 A Framework for Complex System Development 129 Contents -1 Appendix B: Tailored Documentation Worksheet 129 A Framework for Complex System Development 131 Contents -1 Appendix C: SDF-Derived Major Milestone Review Criteria 131 I. First Major Design Review 131 A. System-Level Requirements Development 131 B. Synthesis 132 Design 132 System Verification 133 C. System-Level Trade Analyses 134 II. Second Major Design Review 134 A. Subsystem-Level Requirements Development 134 B. Synthesis 135 Subsystem Design 135 Subsystem Verification 136 C. Subsystem-Level Trade Analyses 137 III. Third Major Design Review 137 A. Sub-Subsystem Level Requirements Development 137 B. Synthesis 138 Sub-Subsystem Design 138 Sub-Subsystem Verification 139 C. Sub-Subsystem-Level Trade Analyses 140 A Framework for Complex System Development 141 Contents -1 Appendix D: A SDF-Derived Curriculum 141 Section 1 SDF-Derived Curriculum — Technical 142 I. Overall System Development Framework 142 A. Time Domain View 142 B. Logical Domain View 142 C. Survey existing Standards 142 II. Requirements Development — Full Semester Course 142 B. Work Generation Activities 142 C. Rework Discovery Activities 143 III. Synthesis — Full Semester Course 143 A. Work Generation Activities 143 B. Rework Discovery Activities 144 IV. Trade Analyses 144 Section 2 SDF-Derived Curriculum — Managerial 145 I. Content of System Development Management Courses 145 A. Developing the Program Structure 145 B. Program Management 145 C. General Managerial Skills — Core Courses 145 D. Functional Management 146 II. Manufacturing, Production, and Distribution 146 Notional SDF-Based Assignments 147 I. Develop Requirements 147 A. Inputs 147 B. Work Generation Activities 148 C. Rework Discovery Activities 148 II. Synthesis 149 A. Work Generation Activities 149 B. Rework Discovery Activities 151 III. Trade Analysis 152 A Framework for Complex System Development 153 Contents -1 Appendix E: Mapping EQFD and Robust Design into the SDF 153 I. Requirements Development 153 A. Inputs 153 B. Work Generation Activities 153 1. Derive Context Requirements 153 2. Generate Functional Description 153 C. Rework Discovery Activities 154 1. Analyze Requirements 154 2. Analyze Functional Description 154 II. Synthesis 154 A. Work Generation Activities 154 1. Design 154 2. Allocation 155 3. Analysis 155 4. Functional Decomposition 155 5. Integration 156 B. Rework Discovery Activities 156 1. Analyses, Development Testing, Test Planning 156 2. Producibility, Testability, and Other Specialty Engineering Activities 156 III. Trade Analyses 157 A Framework for Complex System Development 158 Contents -1 Appendix F: A Simple System Dynamics Model of the SDF 158 A Framework for Complex System Development 169 Contents -1 Appendix G: SDF Presentation Slides 169 A Framework for Complex System Development 214 Contents -1 Bibliography 214 "A Framework for Complex System Development offers a unique approach - conceived in the crucible of the real world - for creating sound, complex systems in an organized and efficient manner." "Features: emphasizes brevity in order to extend usefulness to busy managers, engineers and students; applies to a wide variety of contexts and maintains the overall framework with separately defined "time" and "logical" domains; outlines a modular framework that can be easily tailored to meet the specific demands of individual programs; defines the logical coupling between hierarchical tiers of the system, which affects information flow roles and responsibilities, change impact analyses, and risk management; develops a computer simulation model that addresses key issues and illustrates their effects on complex system development; develops logical and consistent connections between technical and managerial activities; and defines the Rework Cycle in the context of complex system development, which is essential for an accurate understanding of real-world system development dynamics."--Jacket A presentation of a structured framework for the systems engineering process, that maintains a distinction between the time and local domains. It defines coupling between tiers, outlines a modular framework, and develops a computer simulation model to quantitatively answer strategic questions