Practical Systems Measurement

Donald J. Gantzer - The MITRE Corporation & INCOSE - Measurement Working Group

Date & Time:

Monday 2^nd July 2001 8:30am - 12:30pm

Venue Location:

Carlton Crest Hotel - Room TBD

Abstract:

The Practical Systems Measurement tutorial introduces students to a practical measurement process for systems engineering. In addition, it provides real-world guidance to help the participants start a measurement program or mature existing measurement activities. The tutorial explains how measurement can be used to help manage systems engineering programs, defines the characteristics of an effective measurement process, and reviews measurement requirements. Participants will obtain a working knowledge of how to plan and tailor measures for their system-specific needs, and how to implement and perform an effective issue-based measurement process.

This tutorial is intended to develop systems engineering measurement awareness and skills. The course material is based on best practices and lessons-learned that have been collected from government and industry. It is consistent with the measurement guidance of INCOSE’s Measurement Working Group (MWG). The recently released Practical Software and Systems Measurement Version 4.0 Guidebook upon which this tutorial is based is the direct result of a collaboration between the Practical Software Measurement (PSM) initiative and the INCOSE MWG. PSM has gained wide acceptance and use in government and industry, and is considered by many to be a de facto standard for measurement. The original software-oriented methodology has been substantially enhanced to include specific systems engineering issue categories, measures, and indicators. It covers the complete systems life-cycle including systems acquisition, development, and operations and maintenance. The measurement process that is taught is sufficiently flexible to incorporate tailoring for each program to which it is applied based upon the program’s specific issues, risks, objectives, and constraints.

A PSM certificate will be provided to those who complete the tutorial.

Detailed Outline:

1. Introduction

2. Measurement Perspective

3. PSM Measurement Approach

• Objectives, concepts, principles, activities, disciplines

4. Tailoring Measures

• Identifying and prioritizing project issues
• Issues, categories, measures
• Selecting and specifying project measures
• Integrating into the technical and management processes

5. Applying Measures

• Collecting and processing data
• Analyzing issues
• Estimation analysis
• Feasibility analysis
• Performance analysis
• PSM analysis model
• Indicators
• Making recommendations

6. Implementing a Measurement Process

• Obtaining organizational support
• Defining responsibilities
• Providing resources

7. Evaluating a Measurement Process

• Evaluating measures and indicators
• Evaluating the process
• Evaluating performance, conformance, and capability
• Updating the experience base
• Identifying improvements

8. Tutorial Summary

• PSM products and services
• Transition organizations
• PSM project calendar
• PSM resource

Audience:

Suitable for all engineering disciplines, highly recommended for both systems and software project managers, and for technical leaders as well as measurement practitioners

Prerequisites:

Basic knowledge of systems engineering and project management concepts.

Biography:

Donald J. Gantzer

Mr. Gantzer is a Lead Systems Engineer for The MITRE Corporation. He has over 30 years of systems engineering experience in project management, process improvement, measurements, operations research, risk analyses, and training for various government agencies (IRS, NASA, FAA, DOT, DOE). Don has worked for such organizations as TRW, Lockheed Martin, Grumman, SAIC, and CNA. Currently, as part of MITRE’s IRS FFRDC, he is providing technical and program management support to the IRS in its modernization efforts. Recently, he completed a Risk Assessment and Security plan task for a NASA information system. He has been a leader in implementing measurements in the process improvement initiatives of the SW CMM, SECM, and ISO 9001. While at TRW on a SETA contract with the FAA, don led the implementation of process and project measurement initiatives for process improvement. As a member and co-chair of the INCOSE Measurement WG, Don is part of the core team assisting in the development and recent release of Practical Software and Systems Measurement guidebook and related training material. He has presented the Practical Systems Measurement course several times for INCOSE and its chapters. He is also active in the Washington DC local chapter of INCOSE.

Don has an MS in Operations Research from Ohio State University, an MA major in Transportation Planning from Virginia Polytechnic Institute, and a BS in Systems Engineering from Ohio State.

Larry LaBruyere

Mr. LaBruyere has been with TRW for over 18 years and supports the Federal Aviation Administration's Chief Information Officer on a technical assistance contract supporting process improvement based on the FAA-iCMM. He participated in the authoring of the FAA-iCMM and FAM. Mr. LaBruyere is an "Authorized CBA IPI Lead Assessor" for the SW-CMM and participated as an evaluator in several evaluations. He was the Appraisal Team Lead for the FAM described in this article. He is an authorized instructor for Practical Software and Systems Measurement. He obtained an MS from American University, and a BAfrom Anderson University.