Chapter 4 of the INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook (4th ed.) provides a thorough discussion of “Technical Processes for the System Lifecycle.” The first two technical processes are (i) business or mission analysis and (ii) stakeholder needs and requirement definition. Each of these processes leverages engagement of system designers with business …

Is there a systems engineering silver bullet? In Part I of this two-part series, I described the criticality of high-quality tools and processes but cautioned that they are not a guarantee of success. They are not a silver bullet. Engineers must still apply engineering rigor for projects to be successful. …

We have all seen some variant of the famous Sidney Harris cartoon – two people standing at the chalkboard, an incredibly complex series of equations or process flow on the left, a simplification or result on the right, and the words “then a miracle occurs” in the middle. It’s an …

(This is Part I of a two-part series. The second post in this series is: Is there a systems engineering silver bullet? Part II: (Not) Reinventing the Wheel.) Is there a systems engineering silver bullet that ensures mission, program, or project design success? As much as we would like to …