INCOSE Chicagoland: Using Systems Engineering Tools to Support Creation of the INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook
INCOSE Chicagoland: Using Systems Engineering Tools to Support Creation of the INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook
Date: 18 September 2025
Time: 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM (CT)
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Abstract: The objective of the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) Systems Engineering Handbook is to describe the state-of-the-good-practice for Systems Engineering. It serves as the basis for the INCOSE certification examination. The handbook effort is led by an Editorial Team from across the globe (representing all three INCOSE sectors) with the support of the INCOSE Working Groups (WGs) and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). The most recent Fifth Edition was released in July of 2023. A tailored version of the Systems Engineering process described in the handbook was used to develop the handbook. To enable this process, a requirements management tool (Jama Connect) and a system design tool (Vitech/Zuken GENESYS) were employed by the editorial team. This presentation describes the application and tailoring of these two Systems Engineering tools for use on the Fifth Edition project highlighting the key adaptations to set-up the tool, the key features used, and the benefits of usage. This presentation will present the results of these modeling efforts and highlight some of the unique challenges related to modeling process standards. Overall, the team had success using Jama Connect to capture and manage the numerous requirements for the handbook Fifth Edition. The tool created an organized structure, collaboration center, and easy to use coverage views to spot gaps in content, beyond what is possible in other documentation tools. The team also had success using Vitech/Zuken GENESYS to model the system life cycle processes within the handbook, particularly in the area of typical process inputs and outputs. The use of the model enforced necessary discipline in the identification and naming of the information items and defining the transfer of these information items between processes.
About our Speaker: Dave Walden is an Expert Systems Engineering Professional (ESEP) with over 45 years of practical experience and proven results in Systems Engineering. He has broad experience in training, technical leadership, and corporate-level process improvement .Dave has Systems Engineering consulting and instruction expertise in several domains including: agriculture & construction; automotive; biomedical & healthcare; building controls & automation; consumer goods; defense & aerospace; government departments & agencies; professional services; and universities. He was Editor-in-Chief for the Fourth and Fifth editions of the International Council on Systems Engineering Systems Engineering Handbook.