Systems Engineering Competency Assessment Guide

SECAG ANNEX A: SYSTEMS ENGINEERING COMPETENCY ASSESSMENT GUIDE TABLES

This annex provides a set of tables providing detailed assessment criteria associated with each of the competence areas identified in the Systems Engineering Competency Framework.

Competency area – Core: Systems Thinking
DescriptionThe application of the fundamental concepts of systems thinking to Systems Engineering. These concepts include understanding what a system is, its context within its environment, its boundaries and interfaces, and that it has a life cycle. System thinking applies to the definition, development, and production of systems within an enterprise and technological environment and is a framework for curiosity about any system of interest.
Why it mattersSystems thinking is a way of dealing with increasing complexity. The fundamental concepts of systems thinking involve understanding how actions and decisions in one area affect another, and that the optimization of a system within its environment does not necessarily come from optimizing the individual system components. Systems Thinking is conducted within an enterprise and technological context. These contexts impact the life cycle of the system and place requirements and constraints on the systems thinking being conducted. Failing to meet such constraints can have a serious effect on the enterprise and the value of the system.
Possible contributory types of evidenceAny combination of the types of evidence may be acceptable ...