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Systems Engineering Initiatives at NASA

To

GODDARD/SMA-D EDUCATION SERIES

Gregory L. Robinson

NASA

Deputy Chief Engineer

September 25, 2008

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Major Initiatives Establish Technical Authority Improve Program and Project Management Revitalize Systems Engineering

Strategy to support NASA Vision

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Deployment of the NASA SE Framework

Tools and Methods• NASA SE Handbook• SE Body of Knowledge• “Art and Science of Engineering Space Systems” monograph• SE Bibliography & References• SE Community of Practice• SE Wikii• MBSE Initiative• Center tool use surveys • NASA Toolshed• Center SE-specific websitesWorkforce, Knowledge and Skills

• SE Roadshow• Understanding NPR 7123.1A course • SE courses offered through NASA APPEL• SE Workforce Development Strategy, SE Behaviors• SE Leadership Development Program (SELDP)• Center SE OJT programs, SE Mentoring• SE Seminars, bi-annual SE Masters Forum, • SE Track at PM Challenge• SE Activity of the Year Award• Characterization of SE workforce, SE Community (target audience)• SE Survey

Common Technical Processes• SE NPR• Center SE NPR Implementation Plans • Center surveys (gap analysis)• Center Procedural Requirements

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Engineers Across NASA Described Systems Engineering

• Prepare the documents necessary for key project milestones—poor

• Manage processes—a good part, an enabler, but not enough

• Perform as the technical conscience of a project—nice but generic

• Design, realize, and manage the creation, development, and implementation of the system —reasonable

• Know the technical “red line” through the system; be able to anticipate effects of changes throughout the system and lifecycle—reasonable but limited

• Maintain the big-picture perspective, integrating all disciplines—reasonable

• Maintain the project’s technical integrity, whatever it takes—reasonable

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What is Systems Engineering at NASA?

• Systems engineering is the “art and science” of developing an operable system that can meet requirements within imposed constraints.

• Systems engineering is holistic and integrative. It incorporates and balances the contributions of many disciplines, including systems safety, to produce a coherent whole that no single discipline dominates.

• Systems engineering is about tradeoffs and compromises, about generalists rather than specialists.

• Systems engineering is first and foremost about getting the right design—and then about maintaining and enhancing its technical integrity, as well as managing complexity with good processes.

Neither the world’s greatest design, poorly implemented –

nor a poor design, brilliantly implemented – is worth having.

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Maintaining Balance Among Subsystem Designs

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The Scope of Systems Engineering

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Systems Engineering Activities Span the Project Lifecycle

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Program/Project Mgmt Requirements

NPR 7120.5

NASA Space Flight Program and Project

Management Requirements

NPR 7123.1

Systems Engineering Procedural Requirements

(and Other Engineering NPRs)

NPD 1000.0 Strategic Management & Governance Handbook

NPD 1000.3 The NASA Organization

NPD 7120.4 “Acquisition” NPD 8700.1

NASA Policy for Safety & Mission

Success

OSMA NPRs

Mission Support Office NPDs

Support Org NPRs

EngineeringRequirements

SMARequirements

MSO FunctionalRequirements

Center Engineering & Management Policies and Practices

Program Plans Project Plans

Mission Directorate Programmatic Requirements

NPD 8900.5A

NASA Health & Medical Policy for Space Exploration

NID 1240-41

and OCHMO NPRs

Health & MedicalRequirements

Realignment of Governing Documents

NPD 7120.7

NPD 7120.8

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Common Technical Processes

3.1 – Figure 3-1 SE Engine

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Role of SE in context of PM

Systems Engineering Project Control

•System Design•Requirement Definition

•Technical Solution Definition

•Product Realization

•Design Realization

•Evaluation•Transition

•Technical Management

•Technical Planning

•Technical Control

•Technical Assessment

•Technical Decision Analysis

• Planning• Risk

Management• Configuration

management• Data

Management• Assessment• Decision

Analysis

• Management Planning

• Schedule Management

• Integrated Assessment

• Resource Management

• Acquisition management

Project

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Development Activities for Systems Engineers

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Development Activities for Systems Engineers by Performance Level

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An Example of Healthy Tension

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Summary

This vision will require a renewed emphasis on systems engineering. In order to implement this vision, NASA is pursuing an approach that takes into consideration the latest reinvigoration of systems engineering in other Government and Industry initiatives.

The Best Systems Engineering Principals, Processes, The Best Systems Engineering Principals, Processes, and Techniques Will Turn This Vision into Realityand Techniques Will Turn This Vision into Reality