Chapitre de l’est du CanadaEastern Canada Chapter

Systems Engineering and

Project ManagementMichel Dion

1 Dec 2009

Objective

• To discuss Systems Engineering versus Project Management

This is a thinking exercise I have initiated and in

which you are invited to participate

Welcome in my head

Agenda• Objective

• Who Am I

• What is Systems Engineering

• What is Project Management

• Observations

• Way ahead

• A word on certification

Who am I?

Who am I?

• For Bombardier Aerospace/L-3 Com– I am a Project Manager

• For Bell Helicopter– I am a Systems Engineer

Definitions

• As per INCOSE SE Handbook:– « SE is an interdisciplinary approach and

means to enable the realization of succesful systems ».

– « A system is a combination of interacting elements organized to achieve one more stated purposes ».

Definitions

• As per PMI PMBoK:– « PM is the application of knowledge, skills,

tools and techniques to project activities to meet project requirements »

– « A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create unique product, service, or result ».

Definitions

• So:– SE and PM are the same?– SE and PM are mutually exclusive?– Somewhere in between?– Could they be actually two required skills to

be successful?

• Let’s have a look at what INCOSE and PMI propose to us

Systems Engineering• Considers the Product Life Cycle

– (ISO/IEC 15288)

Souce: INCOSE SE Handbook, Version 3.1, p. 3.4

Systems Engineering• SE in time, i.e. the Vee Model

Souce: Visualizing Project Management, K. Forsberg, p.349

Systems Engineering• Four process groups to support SE:

Souce: INCOSE SE Handbook, Version 3.1, p. 1.2

Project Management• Relationship between project and product:

Souce: PMBoK, Version 3, p. 24

Project Management• PM in time / 5 Process groups:

Souce: PMBoK, Version 3, p. 68

Project Management• Nine

knowledge areas to support PM:

Souce: PMBoK, Version 3, p. 11

Observations

• Level of application

• SE include PM tools

• Decision Gates / Gated process

• Documentation

• Varying level of details / focus

• Technical involvement

• …

Conclusion

• When speaking of product development– We need good knowledge of the PM

mechanics as well as good knowledge of SE methodology

Way forward

Because we are INCOSE, the next presentations will focus on specific SE skills

A word on INCOSE Certification

• http://www.incose.org/educationcareers/doc/090608_Certification_Overview.pdf

A word on INCOSE Certification

People get certified

Value of SE demonstrated to

organizations

Organizations want INCOSE certified people

INCOSE Membership

demand increases

Questions / Comments?