Corvus Chamber

Source of Knowledge

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Project Processes

The Project Processes are used to establish and evolve project plans, to execute the project plans, to assess actual achievement and progress against the plans and to control execution of the project through to fulfillment.

Individual Project Processes may be invoked at any time in the life cycle and at any level in a hierarchy of projects, as required by project  plans  or  unforeseen  events. The Project Processes are applied with a level of rigour and formality that depends on the risk and complexity of the project.

ISO/IEC 15288:2008, p. 24 

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Modeling, Simulation, and Prototyping

Models represent the essential characteristics of the system under development, the environment in which the system operates, and/or interactions with enabling systems and interfacing systems.

Types of Models and Simulations

Systems Engineering models and simulations typically reflect four paradigms:

Functional analysis with specialty, environmental, and interface engineering models attached

Modern Structured Analysis/Process for System Architecture and Requirements Engineering

Systems Modeling Language (SysML™)

Context‐sensitive systems, also called complex, adaptive systems, which modify their internal gradients, architecture, and content depending on interactions with their environment.

Models may be made up of one or several of the following types:

Physical (e.g., Wind Tunnel model, Mockups, Acoustic model, structural test model, engineering model, prototypes)

Graphical (e.g., N2 charts, Behavior diagrams, Program Evaluation Review Technique [PERT] charts, Logic Trees, blueprints)

Mathematical (deterministic; e.g., Eigen value calculations, Dynamic motion, Cost)

Statistical (e.g., Monte Carlo, Process modeling, sequence estimation) 

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Implementation Process 

The  purpose  of  the  Implementation  Process  is  to  realize  a  specified system element.

This  process  transforms  specified  behavior,  interfaces and implementation  constraints  into  fabrication  actions  that  create a system  element  according  to  the  practices  of  the selected implementation  technology.  The  system  element  is constructed  or adapted by  processing  the  materials  and/or  information  appropriate  to the  selected  implementation  technology  and  by  employing  appropriate technical  specialties  or  disciplines.  This  process  results  in  a  system element  that  satisfies  specified  design  requirements  through verification and stakeholder requirements through validation.

ISO/IEC 15288:2008, p. 42 

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Causal Loop diagram Example : Gold Mining Investment in Peru - using VUE

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Causal Loop Diagrams Software

-Open Source

-Intuitive Interface

Vensim :

-Link: http://vensim.com/

Stella / iThink :

-Link: http://www.iseesystems.com/Softwares/Business/ithinkSoftware.aspx

Alternatives

Visual Understanding Environment (VUE) :

-Link : http://vue.tufts.edu/

Microsoft Visio:

-link: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/visio/

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Causal Loop Diagrams

System behavior in system dynamics is modeled by using feedback (causal) loops, stocks and flows (levels and rates), and the non-linearities created by interactions among system components.

In this view of the world, behavior over time (the dynamics of the system) can be explained by the interaction of positive and negative feedback loops.

The models are constructed from three basic building blocks: positive feedback or reinforcing loops, negative feedback or balancing loops, and delays. Positive loops (called reinforcing loops) are self-reinforcing while Negative loops (called balancing loops) tend to counteract change. Delays introduce potential instability into the system.

Peter M. Senge (1990), The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization, Doubleday Currency, New York.

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Architectural Design Process

The  purpose  of  the  Architectural  Design  Process  is  to  synthesize  a solution that satisfies system requirements.

This  process  encapsulates  and  defines  areas  of  solution  expressed  as  a set  of  separate  problems  of  manageable,  conceptual  and,  ultimately, realizable  proportions.  It  identifies  and  explores  one  or  more implementation  strategies  at  a  level  of  detail  consistent  with  the system’s  technical  and  commercial  requirements  and  risks.  From  this, an  architectural  design  solution  is  defined  in  terms  of  the  requirements for the  set of system elements from which the system is configured. The specified  design  requirements  resulting  from  this  process  are the  basis for  verifying  the  realized  system  and  for  devising  an  assembly  and verification strategy.

ISO/IEC 15288:2008, p. 40 

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Sources of Requirements

Requirements analysis, like the set of SE processes, is an iterative activity in which new requirements are identified and constantly refined as the concept develops and additional details become known. These are analyzed, and deficiencies and cost drivers are identified and reviewed with the customer to establish a requirements baseline for the project. 

INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook v. 3.2.2 

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Definicion de Valor

"El Valor es una medida de la importancia percibida (por ejemplo,  beneficio dividido entre coste)  de un producto o servicio especifico por parte de un cliente, y potencialmente otros stakeholders y varía en función de :

La eficacia de un producto para satisfacer la necesidad del cliente

La importancia relativa de la necesidad a ser satisfecha

La disponibilidad del producto en relación a cuando este es requerido

El coste de adquisición para los clientes. "

McManus, Hugh L., “Product Development Value Stream Mapping Manual,” LAI Release Beta, MIT, April 2004 

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System Requirements : Iterative and Recursive

Iteration : When  the  application  of  the  same  process  or  set  of  processes is repeated on the same level of the system, the application is referred as iterative.

Recursion: When the same set of processes or the same set of process activities are applied  to  successive  levels  of  system  elements  within  the system structure, the application form is referred to as recursive.

ISO/IEC CD 29148, Requirements Engineering

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Waste in Product Development

The Lean Advancement Initiative (LAI)  classifies  waste  into  seven  categories: 

Over-Processing

Waiting

Unnecessary  Movement

Over-Production

Transportation

Inventory

Defects

McManus, Hugh L, “Product Development Transition to Lean (PDTTL) Roadmap,” LAI Release Beta, MIT, March 2005

  Waste: 

"The  work  element  that  adds  no  value  to  the  product  or  service in the eyes of the customer. Waste only adds cost and time."

Womack, James P., and Daniel T, Jones, Lean Thinking, New York: Simon & Schuster, 1996

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Definition of Value

"Value  is  a  measure  of  worth  (e.g.,  benefit  divided  by  cost)  of  a  specific product  or  service  by  a  customer,  and  potentially  other  stakeholders  and  is  a  function  of:

The  product's usefulness  in  satisfying  a  customer  need

The relative  importance  of  the  need  being  satisfied

The  availability  of  the product  relative  to  when  it  is  needed

The  cost  of  ownership  to  the customer. " 

McManus, Hugh L., “Product Development Value Stream Mapping Manual,” LAI Release Beta, MIT, April 2004