Systems Engineering for the Digital Age

Chapter 9Expedited Systems Engineering for Rapid Capability

John M. Colombi

Department of Systems Engineering and Management, Air Force Institute of Technology, OH USA

Introduction

This research examines “expedited” systems engineering (SE) as applied to the development of defense capabilities, specifically development for defense joint urgent operational needs. The life cycle of urgent need programs is driven by “time to market” as opposed to complete satisfaction of static strategic requirements, with delivery expected in months. The original hypothesis was that by identifying, finding, testing, and ultimately implementing expedited SE processes and practices, the developed solution would be more effective with a high probability of success. A potential second‐order effect is that as urgent becomes the new “normal,” any findings would improve systems engineering for traditional developmental programs as well.

As was noted in the SERC Systems 2020 report (Boehm 2010), SE capabilities need to be developed that achieve dramatic reduction in time that develop a fieldable first‐article product, implement foreseeable classes of fielded systems changes, and rapidly adapt to unforeseeable threats. Traditional systems engineering tools, processes, and technologies poorly support rapid design changes or enhancements within acceptable schedule constraints. Perhaps an artifact of the defense acquisition process, rapid development has achieved point solutions, which make adaptation cumbersome ...