Reengineering Systems Engineering

Abstract

This paper documents (1) the early phases of using systems engineering to develop a conceptual system – the system being developed is a systems engineering body of knowledge (SEBoK) and (2) the findings and opportunities generated in those early phases. The approach was based on identifying activities specific to systems engineering, as opposed to the broad raft of activities that systems engineers might undertake, according to their role. An activity-based definition of systems engineering vs. non-systems engineering role-based definition was developed. The second part of the paper identifies five types of systems engineers, discusses the evolution of systems engineering in terms of those five types, and hypothesizes that a major cause of the failure of systems engineering is the allocation of inappropriate types of systems engineers to early lifecycle phase systems engineering activities. The paper concludes with some insights and recommendations for further study.