Value of Systems Engineering
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Date
Wednesday, March 10, 2004
Time
6:00PM
Subject
Value of Systems Engineering
Description
Most methods and tools in systems engineering are used because someone found them useful. Others use them because of good reports or an attractive logical argument. In our field, however, there has been little research to determine the true value of systems engineering. Do the methods and tools really improve the quality of system products? Do they reduce cost or shorten schedule during development? Do they reduce risk? Or are the methods and tools of systems engineering simply this decade's "flat earth syndrome"?
Eric Honour reports on the current state of research into the true value of systems engineering. This presentation includes useful summaries of several past and present projects that quantify the value in terms of project improvement. General conclusions confirm that systems engineering contributes to shorter schedules, less cost, and less risk, with some indication of how much is appropriate. Projects include
- NASA Tracking 1980s
- "Boundary Management" study
- "Large Engineering Projects" MIT study
- "Impact of SE at NASA" (SECOE 02-02)
- "SE Effectiveness" IBM study
- "Value of SE" research (SECOE 01-03)
Speaker Bio
Mr. Eric Honour has been in international leadership of the engineering of systems for over a decade, part of a 35-year career of complex systems development and operation. His energetic and informative presentation style actively involves participants. He is a former President of INCOSE (1997). In addition, he was the founding President of the INCOSE Space Coast Chapter (1992), founding Chair of the INCOSE Technical Board (1994), and continues as Director for Sponsored Research leading the INCOSE Systems Engineering Center of Excellence (SECOE). He was selected in 2000 for Who's Who in Science and Technology.
He has been a systems engineer, engineering manager, and program manager at Harris Information Systems, E-Systems Melpar, and Singer Link, preceded by nine years as a US Naval Officer flying P-3 aircraft. He has led or contributed to the development of 18 major systems, including the Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation systems, the Battle Group Passive Horizon Extension System, the National Crime Information Center 2000, and the DDC1200 Digital Zone Control system for heating and air conditioning.
Mr. Honour now heads Honourcode, Inc., a consulting firm offering effective methods in the development of system products. Mr. Honour has a BSSE (Systems Engineering) from the US Naval Academy and MSEE from the Naval Postgraduate School. He lives in Pensacola, Florida.
Location
SEACorp Middleton
62 Johnny Cake Hill, Middletown RI 02842
(401) 847-2260
Cost
INCOSE Members $5
Non members: Free for first meeting
Student members: Free
Payable at the door.
Reservations
Please RSVP to info@incose-ne.org