A program of research into systems engineering

© University of South Australia, 2003 1

A Program of Researchinto Systems Engineering

Joseph E. Kasser DSc CEng CM MIEE, Stephen C. Cook PhDFIEE FIEAust

Systems Engineering and Evaluation CentreUniversity of South Australia

School of Electrical and Information EngineeringMawson Lakes Campus, South Australia 5095

Telephone: +61 (08) 8302 3941, Fax: +61 (08) 8302 4723Emails: [email protected], [email protected]


Topics The elements of a framework for the

engineering of complex systems; Object-oriented systems engineering; Research into prototype object-

oriented tools for systemsengineering; The application of systems

engineering to various domains.


Systems Engineering

Academia isteaching it

Industry ispracticing it

INCOSE is trying toimprove it

Tower of SystemsEngineering


Tower of SystemsEngineering

Systems Engineering

But nobody knowswhat it is

No agreeddefinition

Academic debateabout degrees in thesubject


Product/sub-systemEngineering

Project SystemEngineering

Business SystemEngineering

Industry SystemEngineering

Socio-EconomicSystems Engineering

The 5-Layer Systems EngineeringModel

Government Regulation and Control.Economic, legal and political influences.

National Wealth Creation, the Nation’sEngine. (Japan operates at this level)

Industrial Wealth Creation. ManyBusinesses make an industry

Corporate Wealth Creation. (The Westoperates at this level.)

Technology Artefacts. To some the only“real” systems engineering. Many Products(can) make a system

Time Derek Hitchins, SETE 2000


ISO/IEC 15288 Road Map

Project PlanningProcess

Project AssessmentProcess

Project ControlProcess

Decision-makingProcess

Risk ManagementProcess

ConfigurationManagement ProcessAgreement Processes

Acquisition Process

Supply Process

InformationManagement Process

Enterprise EnvironmentManagement Process

Investment ManagementProcess

System Life CycleManagement Process

Resource ManagementProcess

Quality ManagementProcess

Enterprise ProcessesStakeholder Requirements

Definition ProcessRequirements Analysis Process

Architectural Design Process

Implementation Process

Maintenance Process

Disposal Process

Operation Process

Validation Process

Verification Process

Transition Process

Integration Process

Technical ProcessesProjectProcesses


Elements for Area of Research The Area of Concern (A),

• which might be a particular problem in a discipline (area ofstudy), a real-world problem situation, or a system of interest.

A particular linked Framework of Ideas (F) in whichthe knowledge about the area of concern is expressed.• includes current theories, bodies of knowledge, heuristics, etc

as documented in the literature as well as tacit knowledge.

The Methodology (M) in which the framework isembodied• incorporates methods, tools, and techniques in a manner

appropriate to the discipline that uses them to investigate thearea of concern.


Relationships Between F,M&A

Elements relevant to any piece of research(Checkland and Holwell, 1998: p 13).


Broad Areas of Concern A designed physical system

• (that also contains human components). A human activity system

• (engineering organisation).

Each span many disciplines and require pluralistic approaches thatnot only invoke multiple methodologies but ones that rest on quitedistinctly different frameworks of ideas.

They are of fundamentally different types and hence will probablyhave to be approached with different methodologies.

As such we now understand why:• Many systems engineers cannot clearly articulate the functions and

benefits of systems engineering (Kasser and Shoshany 2001).• It has been extremely difficult to establish a systems engineering

body of knowledge (SEBOK) for the diverse activities that areknown by the term “systems engineering.” (Kasser and Massie,2001).


Topics

The elements of a framework for theengineering of complex systems; Object-oriented systems engineering; Research into prototype object-

oriented tools for systems engineering; The application of systems

engineering to various domains.


Object-Oriented SE has a Gap

Concept ofoperations

(Use Cases)

Systems (objects)

Object-orientedsoftware

Object-orientedhardware


What is a Requirement? It is a means of communication

It is a representation of a need• Traditionally text based

Requirements are crucial todelivering the right system andproducing it in the most effectivemanner (optimal costs)


What is a Good Requirement? Describes something (“what”) about

the system to be implemented• Product dimension

Facilitates the process of implementingthe system• Process dimension

It’s a real requirement• Well-written but useless


The Real RequirementDesignRequirement Test

Acceptancecriteria

(property of a requirement)


Research Questions Can an object-oriented approach provide

traceability from the highest level needstatement to the lowest level ofimplementation? Can a conversion to object-oriented

requirements bypass or resolve today’sproblem of poor requirements?

What are the properties of object-oriented requirements?• Product dimension• Process dimension


Topics The elements of a framework for the engineering

of complex systems;

Object-oriented systems engineering;

Research into prototype object-orientedtools for systems engineering;• OCH

• CREAP

• PETS

The application of systems engineering to variousdomains.


The Operational ConceptHarbinger

Takes a holistic approach through greaterparticipation of stakeholders in a form thatallows them to contribute meaningfully

Helps to elicit (complete the set of)requirements

Reduces poorly articulated requirements

Minimizes undocumented requirements

Minimizes immeasurable requirements


OCH Evolutionary Sequence -Summary

Combined Operations Concept andRequirements information

Added• Measures of effectiveness• Multi-media and diagrammatic

information• Non-sequential access to, and display of,

information• Parallel display (views) of information


The Place of the OCH in the SDLC


Structure of the OCH Frame-based

Underlying sequential State Machine

Use Case scenarios

UML swim lane format

Activity sequence (PERT like) relationships


Scenario Formats UML, basic and enhanced with graphics

• the current way of working. Static workflow diagrams

• adding user perspective, Dynamic workflow diagrams

• animated diagrams showing sequences. Audio files

• containing verbal descriptions such as environmental conditions for the deployed system, or user

concerns.

Video files• showing scenarios

animated or filmed.

Simulations• of all or part of the system.

Text mode• for those people who still think in terms of “requirements”


Example


Server

LAN/Internet

CONTROL

S1 S2 Sn

Physical View of OCH


A Practical OCH


Advantages of the OCH

Bypasses today’s problems due to “poorrequirements”

Connects development effort more directly tothe user needs

Visual representation of “needs”• Improves the requirements elicitation process

by providing an interactive facility for exploring the capabilitiesof the customer’s needs.

• leads to inherited non-functional “needs”which reduces the quantity of “missing requirements”

Helps bridge the gap between soft and hardsystems


The Purpose of the CommunicationsRequirements Evaluation & AssessmentPrototype (CREAP)

To determine if Requirements Engineering tools couldbe extended to:• Constrain writers of requirements to feasible specifications• Generates a list of feasible implementation options consistent

with a defined inventory

To determine if• User selected combinations of equipment from inventory list• Would provide the needed communications capability• For a specific category of serviceAntennasReceiversTransmittersModems


Communications coverage


Elements of the CREAP

The frames• General purpose so that the contents of the frames

can be replaced by a set of frames for a differentscenario allowing the tool to be used in anotherscenario potentially with no additionalprogramming.

The user interface template• Provides the template for the information to be

displayed on the GUI.

The frame interpreter• A state machine, which interprets the contents of the

frames.


CREAP


Prototype Educational Tools forSystem and Software Engineering

(PETS)



(PETS)



(PETS)



(PETS)



(PETS)



(PETS)



(PETS)


Topics

The elements of a framework for theengineering of complex systems;


Research into prototype object-oriented tools for systems engineering;

The application of systems engineeringto various domains.


Research areas An Acquisition Methodology for the Procurement and

Integration of a Network Enabled Warfare System ofSystems

A Systems Approach to the Evaluation of Complex, Real-Time Information Systems: Determining theEffectiveness of Command and Control Organisations

Developing methodologies to make efficient use ofCommercial Off The Shelf software products in Research

How the audio interface for short range infrared guidedair-to-air missiles can be improved

Measures of Effectiveness: The Standards for Success

Strategic Planning and Capability Engineering


Systems Engineering GlossaryProject

Student summer project• One iteration through the Development Life Cycle

Initial announcement on Discuss Reflector

Prototype (limited vocabulary) in test

SECOE project


Conclusions A research program into systems engineering covers a

broad range of activities The incorporation of process elements into the

requirement object has shown to be a promising approachfor increasing the effectiveness of the systems engineeringprocess and providing customers with a product that meetstheir needs.

The reductionist approach to solving the problem of poorrequirements is the time-phased parallel process ofbuilding a suite of tools for performing specific tasks.

While the reductionist approach may not be applicable tosolving all complex problems, in these applications theresults have been promising. FRED, CREAP, TIGER, theremaining PETS and the OCH provide capability thatshows that parts of the problem of poor requirements canbe alleviated by applying the appropriate technology.


Summary

The elements of a framework for theengineering of complex systems;


Research into prototype object-oriented tools for systems engineering;

The application of systems engineeringto various domains.


Questions ?