Systems Engineering for the Digital Age

Chapter 10Scaling Agile Principles to an Enterprise

Michael Orosz¹, Brian Duffy¹, Craig Charlton¹, Hector Saunders², and Michael Shih³

¹ University of Southern California Information Sciences Institute, Marina del Rey, CA, USA

² US Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC), El Segundo, CA, USA

³ Booz Allen Hamilton, El Segundo, CA, USA

Introduction

This chapter discusses the unique challenges in scaling agile and DevSecOps (development, security, and operations) to large enterprise systems. Such systems include large‐scale manufacturing processes (e.g., automotive manufacturing) and service‐based systems such as space‐based communication systems. These systems are composed of multiple subsystems, each often developed and maintained via multiple vendors and undergo modification and upgrades on different timelines. Although many of these enterprise systems are composed of both hardware and software subsystems (e.g., space vehicle and software‐based ground control), this chapter is focused primarily on software‐based systems. That said, when appropriate, reference to hardware‐only or hybrid hardware and software‐based systems will also be noted. The targeted enterprise environment includes mid‐to‐large scale enterprises such as US Department of Defense acquisition programs and mission‐critical systems (i.e., systems that cannot fail).

The Challenge

As noted in Chapter 37 on Unique Challenges in Mission Engineering and Technology Integration, enterprise systems are typically large ...