To better encourage and recognize contributions to our profession, INCOSE recognizes one outstanding paper from Systems Engineering each year. In 2004, the Journal editorial board selected two papers published between 1998 and 2003 for recognition. The following papers have been recognized with the Outstanding Journal Paper Award.

Best Paper Awards Awarded 2012 Next Generation Requirements Engineering John Favaro, Silvia Mazzini, Intecs Spa Hans-Peter De Koning, European Space Agency/ESTEC Rudolf Schreiner, ObjectSecurity Ltd Xavier Olive, Thales Alenia Space France Awarded 2012 Understanding Airlines’ Value Perceptions For Value-Based Requirements Engineering Of Commercial Aircraft Xinwei Zhang, Guillaume Auriol, Claude Baron INSA Toulouse, Université de Toulouse Hakki Eres, University of Southampton Mario Kossmann, AIRBUS Awarded 2012 Entering a Brave New World - Applying Systems Engineering to American Infrastructure Projects - Case Study: The California High-Speed Train Project Oliver Hoehne, Parsons Brinkerhoff, Transit & Rail Systems Awarded 2012 Engineering Clean Energy Systems Alex Pavlak, University of Maryland Awarded 2012 Robert K. Garrett Jr., Steve Anderson, Neil T. Baron and James D. Moreland Jr. “Managing the Interstitials, A System of Systems Framework Suited for the Ballistic Missile Defense System” Systems Engineering, Volume 14, Number 1, 2011, pp. 87-109. Which is judged to have made an Outstanding Contribution to Systems Engineering Theory, Practice, and/or Perspectives Awarded 2011 Eun Suk Suh, Michael R. Furst, Kenneth J. Mihalyov, and Olivier de Weck,  “Technology Infusion for Complex Systems: A Framework and Case Study” Systems Engineering, Volume 13, Number 2, 2010, pp. 186-203. Awarded 2010 Jeffrey O. Grady, “Universal Architecture Description Framework” , Systems Engineering, Volume 12, Number 2, 2009, pp. 91-116. Awarded 2010 Donna H. Rhodes, Ricardo Valerdi and Garry J. Roedler, “Systems Engineering Leading Indicators for Assessing Program and Technical Effectiveness” , Systems Engineering, Volume 12, Number 1, 2009, pp. 21-35. Awarded 2009 Adam M. Ross, A., Donna H. Rhodes, and Daniel E. Hastings, "Defining Changeability: Reconciling Flexibility, Adaptability, Scalability, Modifiability, and Robustness for Maintaining Life Cycle Value," Systems Engineering, Vol. 11, No. 3, 2008, pp.246-262. Awarded 2008 Rudolf Smaling and Olivier de Weck, "Assessing Risks and Opportunities of Technology Infusion in System Design", Systems Engineering, Vol. 10, No. 1, 2007, pp. 1-25. Awarded 2007 William B. Rouse, “A Theory of Enterprise Transformation,” Systems Engineering, Vol. 8, No. 4, 2005, pp. 279-295. Awarded 2006 Barry Boehm, “Some Future Trends and implementations for Systems and Software Engineering Processes," Systems Engineering, Vol. 9, No. 1, 2006, pp. 1-19, Awarded 2005 Charles R. Weisbin, Guillermo Rodriguez, Alberto Elfes, and Jeffrey H. Smith, “Toward a Systematic Approach for Selection of NASA Technology Portfolios”, Systems Engineering, Vol. 7, No. 4, 2004, pp. 285-302. Awarded 2004 Armin P. Schulz, Don P. Clausing, Ernst Fricke, and Herbert Negele, “Development and Integration of Winning Technologies as Key to Competitive Advantage”, Systems Engineering, Vol. 3, No. 4, 2000, pp. 180-211. Awarded 2004 Lee W. Wagenhals, Sajjad Haider, and Alexander H. Levis, “Synthesizing Executable Models of Object Oriented Architectures,” Systems Engineering, Vol. 6, No. 4, 2003, pp 266-300.