Chapter 2
Industry and Commercial Context
2.1 Introduction
This chapter focuses on the economics of human systems integration (HSI) within the private sector, with emphasis on industrial organizations outside the aerospace and defense industry. Such organizations have more latitude in the systems engineering and management practices they adopt as well as greater accountability for the consequences of these practices in terms of both rewards and risks. This chapter summarizes the best practices developed and used by companies in a wide range of markets.
2.1.1 Contexts of Experience
The discussions in this chapter draw on experiences in domains ranging from aviation to appliances, computers to communications, and drugs to data warehouses. Hundreds of planning engagements—focused on overall strategy and new product planning—form this experience base. It is essential at the outset to note that few, if any, of these experiences involved explicit use of the phrase “human systems integration.” Although human-related issues are often primary in system design, development, deployment, and sustainment, these issues and how they are addressed are rarely labeled “HSI” outside of the aerospace and defense industries. However, as this chapter delineates in some detail, the HSI philosophy permeates most of the best practices industry wide.
2.1.2 Overview of Chapter
This chapter proceeds as follows. The next section contrasts private- and public-sector practices in the process ...
