Model Based System Engineering

Chapter 7Methodological Bases

7.1 Preliminary Considerations

Choosing and adapting an appropriate methodology is important for achieving the success of any systems engineering project. There are many methodologies in the literature, so it is necessary to understand their goals and context before selecting any of them (Estefan 2007; Weilkiens 2011). Factors such as the project’s size, team skills, and tools available are essential in this decision. Moreover, clearly defining process steps, their inputs and outputs, who is in charge, and the tools used is key to having an efficient development structure (Sage and Rouse 2014).

7.1.1 Navigating the Design Space

A key choice in systems engineering is the approach: top-down, bottom-up, or hybrid (Kossiakoff et al. 2020; Weilkiens 2011). The top-down approach focuses on planning and understanding goals first. It starts with high-level objectives and breaks them down into smaller, detailed elements. This strategy works best for projects with clear goals and stable requirements.

On the other hand, the bottom-up approach uses current components and technologies to build the system from the outset, combining them together. It supports a gradual and iterative process, which can be beneficial in fast-changing technological environments.

7.1.2 The Meet-in-the-middle Approach

Bear in mind that in the real world, most projects do not start from scratch. Most systems engineering tasks build on what is already known, using available ...