18 February 2026 11:00AM EST (1700-1800)
Title: INCOSE RWG Needs and Requirements Manual (NRM) V2 Overview
Abstract: The NRM is part of a family of products developed by the Requirements WG. In 2023, INCOSE contracted with Wiley to publish NRM version 2. The NRM V2 was published Dec 2024 and is available in electronic form in the INCOSE Store for INCOSE members only and Wiley Store for Hardcopy and electronic versions. The NRM presents systems engineering lifecycle concepts from the perspective of needs, requirements, verification, and validation (NRVV) definition and management across the system lifecycle. To successfully complete system verification and system validation, the needs and requirements of the system as well as the system verification and system validation artifacts must be managed throughout the entire system lifecycle. The NRM provides practical guidance on the activities required to achieve those outcomes. In this presentation, Lou Wheatcraft, one of the authors and CoChair of the RWG will discuss an overview of the major changes made, key foundational concepts, and a walkthrough the chapter contents.
Biography: Lou Wheatcraft is a senior consultant and managing member of Wheatland Consulting, LLC. Lou is an international expert in systems engineering with a focus on needs and requirements development, management, verification, and validation across the system lifecycle. Lou’s goal is to help systems engineers practice better systems engineering from a needs and requirements perspective across all lifecycle stages of system/product development. Getting the needs and requirements right upfront is key to a successful project. Lou has over 50 years’ experience in systems engineering, including 22 years in the United States Air Force. Lou has taught over 200 requirement seminars over the last 25 years. Lou supports clients from government and industries involved in developing and managing systems and products including aerospace, defense, medical devices, consumer goods, transportation, and energy. Lou is very active in the INCOSE and is the current co-chair of the RWG. Lou is a principal author of several RWG manuals and guides including the Needs and Requirements Manual (NRM), Guide to Needs and Requirements GtNR), Guide to Verification and Validation (GtVV), and newly released version 4 of the Guide to Writing Requirements (GtWR).Lou has a BS degree in Electrical Engineering from Oklahoma State University; an MA degree in Computer Information Systems; an MS degree in Environmental Management; and has completed the course work for an MS degree in Studies of the Future from the University of Houston – Clear Lake.