Accession Number:

ADA621967

Title:

Model Based Systems Engineering: Issues of Application to Soft Systems

Descriptive Note:

General document

Corporate Author:

UNIVERSITY COLL LONDON (UNITED KINGDOM) MULLARD SPACE SCIENCE LAB

Personal Author(s):

• James, Ady
• Smith, Alan
• Emes, Michael

Report Date:

2012-11-01

Pagination or Media Count:

14.0

Abstract:

Projects often seek to deliver new or improved capabilities within complex, poorly defined and changing contexts. The application of MBSE under such circumstances can be problematic and in this paper we discuss these issues, and suggest approaches for their mitigation. A particular system solution might be envisaged as a combination of subsystems connected through a common architecture. Systems thinking suggests that given clear requirements and a solution concept, one can move forward through the definition of subsystem capabilities and the system architecture where MBSE is particularly useful. However, in many applications the degree of turbulence or evolution within the requirements that can be expected means that close human intervention is necessary to keep the solution fit for purpose. Moreover, this human intervention must be based on significant experience and domain knowledge so as to cope with the many Soft System issues that are likely to be present. At University College London UCL Centre for Systems Engineering we propose five principles that we believe should underpin all SE development projects. In this work we discuss these principles and their application to MBSE within a Soft System context.

Descriptors:

• *SYSTEMS ENGINEERING
• COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE
• EVOLUTION(GENERAL)
• UNITED KINGDOM

Subject Categories:

• Administration and Management

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE