Applied Systems Engineering Course (ASEC)

Today's complex systems present difficult challenges to develop. From military systems to aircraft to environmental and electronic control systems, BAE development teams must face the challenges with an arsenal of proven methods. Individual systems are more complex, and systems operate in much closer relationship, requiring a system-of-systems approach to the overall design.

This course provides a short workshop in applied techniques for effective systems engineering. Unlike other courses, however, this course is specifically intended as an advanced practicum for those already familiar with the basic processes of systems engineering. The course therefore focuses on two key dimensions:

The course is aimed at program managers, project managers, systems engineers, technical team leaders, and others who participate in defining and developing complex systems. Course topics include:

How do We Work With Complexity? - Basic definitions and concepts; practical complexity theory; emergent properties; complex behavior; conceptual chunking and perceptive levels; system thinking principles; how systems engineering applies to complexity.

Systems Engineering Models - Process models that tie together all the concepts and methods; BAE Systems Life Cycle Management (LCM) guides and documentation as they apply to systems engineering; BAE Design Reviews and Phase Reviews; value of systems engineering.

A System Challenge Application - Practical application of the systems engineering principles against an interesting and entertaining system development. Small groups build a system of systems out of actual interoperating robots.

Where Do Requirements Come From? - Requirements as the primary method of measurement and control for systems development; how to translate an undefined need into requirements; how to measure a system; how to create, analyze, manage requirements; writing a specification; graphical requirements analysis methods with exercises.

Where Does a Solution Come From? - Designing a system using the best methods known today; system architecting processes; architecting with patterns; requirements allocation to the system components; how to develop, analyze, and test alternatives; how to trade off results and make decisions; system integration processes; transition to use, operation and maintenance; getting from the system design to the system.

Ensuring System Quality - Building in quality during the development, and then checking it frequently; technical analysis as a system tool; verification at multiple levels: architecture, design, product; validation at multiple levels; requirements, operations design, product

Systems Engineering Management - How to successfully manage the technical aspects of the system development; virtual, collaborative teams; planning technical processes; assessing and controlling the processes; design reviews; technical performance measurement; risk management; technical baselines and configuration management.