Value of Systems Engineering

Summary

This SECOE project is gathering statistical information to quantify the value of systems engineering. The results will allow managers to select intelligently the degree of program risk by selecting the level of systems engineering investment.

Final results of Phase I were published and presented at the 2004 INCOSE International Symposium in Toulouse, France. The results are based on the subjective, volunteer submissions of Phase I. Primary indicated conclusions are that:

• Increasing SE effort improves the overall development quality.
• Optimum level of SE effort is 10-15% of the development cost
• The quality of the SE effort matters

See the final reports of Phase I.

SECOE is now seeking agencies and companies willing to provide protected access to actual project data. Contact us to help.

The Problem In many ways, the field of systems engineering suffers from a lack of quantified information. Managers know that: System analysis and design are important to successful projects Too much system analysis causes a project to stall in "paralysis by analysis."

No information yet exists to indicate the desired optimum. As a result, funding for systems engineering tasks is largely determined by heuristics and urgency. Systems engineering is viewed by many as risk reduction rather than a wisely-determined discipline. This view results in

• Cyclic funding and de-funding of systems engineering tasks, and
• Cycles of system successes and failures.

The Project

SECOE project 01-03 is gathering statistical information to determine the quantitative relationship between SE investment and program results. The project hypothesis is to quantify the "known" intuitive relationships between system-level technical effort and quality, cost, schedule, and risk:

The project is being pursued in three phases:

• Informal Survey - The first phase gathered anecdotal information by circulating an informal survey to practitioners, managers, and executives. Information gathered was subjective, voluntary and skewed, but indicates levels of funding and results.
• Formal Project Definition - The second phase gathers and tabulates the survey results into indicative information for sponsors, then further develops the project methods and funding for phase three. This phase also provides the indicative information for wide dissemination to build interest.
• Sponsored Program Data - The third phase gathers detailed, actual information from live and completed programs. Access to information is provided by sponsorship of the funding program offices. The data is tabulated statistically into information that is widely useable by systems engineering projects.

Status and Funding

Phase I completed with volunteer effort from SECOE participants. See the final reports of Phase I.

Phase II analysis is largely complete except for new data as received.

Phase III is starting in 2005 by obtaining access to actual project data. Phase III will be funded by grants from sponsors.

Page last modified 24 Mar 05