PROOF OF CONCEPT FOR A SYSTEMS ENGINEERING CONFIDENCE TRACKING TOOL FOR REQUIREMENTS REALIZATION

Abstract

This thesis shows how a systems engineering-requirements confidence-tracking tool is useful in research and development (R&D) projects. The tool, which tracks confidence and requirements realization, was developed in Microsoft Excel and applied to an energy-related R&D project that was completed in October 2015. To achieve the primary objective, an analytical search for key SE activities was performed on interview data about the 2015 project. The search was conducted to provide a proof of concept of the tool and demonstrate how it could have been implemented during that project. The tool identifies a confidence score in a metric using red, yellow, and green charts created in Excel. Small R&D teams can use this inexpensive option for project-management requirements and provide more traceability of product production pace, which, in turn, can build stakeholder confidence. Furthermore, since Microsoft Office is a standard software package for the Department of Defense (DoD), the tool is accessible throughout DoD.