Engineering Economics: The Link to Systems and Software Engineering
Engineering Economics: The Link to Systems and Software Engineering
Center for Systems and Software Engineering (CSSE)
Annual Research Review
18 March 2008
Center for Systems and Software Engineering (CSSE)
Annual Research Review
18 March 2008
Marilee J. WheatonGeneral Manager
Systems Engineering Division
Marilee J. WheatonGeneral Manager
Systems Engineering Division
©2008 by The Aerospace Corporation ©2008 by The Aerospace Corporation
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•My Current Home
•Background: The Journey
•Systems Architecting and Heuristics
•Organizations, People and Teamwork
•Conclusion and Acknowledgements
Engineering Economics: The Link to Systems and Software Engineering
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Architect-Engineer for National-Security Space
• We provide the U.S. Air Force and National Reconnaissance Office comprehensive scientific and engineering support, analysis, testing, and verification for launch andsatellite programs
• We don’t manufacture anything; our product is world-class technical know-how, developed over the entire courseof the space era
• We provide broad support to national-security space programs with an engineering and technology “matrix”that can be applied across programs
• We also work on space projects for a variety of civil and commercial organizations in the national interest, including NASA, NOAA, DARPA, universities, and research organizations
• We provide the U.S. Air Force and National Reconnaissance Office comprehensive scientific and engineering support, analysis, testing, and verification for launch andsatellite programs
• We don’t manufacture anything; our product is world-class technical know-how, developed over the entire courseof the space era
• We provide broad support to national-security space programs with an engineering and technology “matrix”that can be applied across programs
• We also work on space projects for a variety of civil and commercial organizations in the national interest, including NASA, NOAA, DARPA, universities, and research organizations
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Aerospace Integration Structure
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY GROUP
Communication Architectures
Network Systems
Communication Systems Engineering
Spectrum Management
Digital Communication Implementation
Communication Electronics
Antenna systems
Computer Technology
Information Science
Software Engineering
Software Verification
Software Acquisition
Ground Systems
Operations Engineering
Guidance/Control
Real-Time Simulation
Flight/Fluid Mechanics
Thermal Control
Structural/Dynamics Analysis
Test and Evaluation
Risk Management
System Architecture
Modeling Simulation
Mission Performance
Concept Design
Cost Engineering
Resource Allocation
Operability Assessment
Reliability & Failure Analysis
Electronics and Photonics
Mechanics
Materials
Space Environment
Mission Oriented Research
Special Sensor Fabrication
Remote Sensing Signatures
MEMSCOLORADO
IMAGERY PROGRAMS
SPACE PROGRAMS
SPACE LAUNCH
ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY
PLANNING AND COMMUNICATIONS
ELECTRONIC PROGRAMS
SYSTEMS PLANNINGAND ENGINEERING
SPACE SUPPORT
Micro- electronics
Power Systems
Sensor Engineering & Exploitation
Optical Sensors
Radar Systems
LaboratoryOperations
SystemsEngineering
Computersand Software
Communicationsand
Networking
Electronicsand Sensors
VehicleSystems
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Background: The Journey
• Hired into the newly created Cost & Schedule Estimation Section in the Software Engineering Subdivision in 1980
– Educational background in Math and Engineering
• First management responsibility as manager of the section in 1984
• Program office assignments from 1986 - 1999 in Milstar, Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), National Systems Group (NSG), Satellite Control Network (SCN)
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Background: The Journey (con’t)
• Started USC MS program in Systems Engineering in 1989
– Introduced to heuristics in Systems Architecting and Engineering course
– Founder of program Dr. Eberhardt Rechtin, President Emeritus, The Aerospace Corporation
• Affiliate member for the Center for Software Engineering since chartered in 1993
• TRW Systems opportunity from 1999 – 2002
– Dr. Boehm’s organizational legacy lives on
– Processes, CMMI and Black Belt Training
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Background: The Journey (con’t)
•USC Fall 2003 taught CS 510, Software Engineering Economics
– If you would learn, teach
•Currently Adjunct Associate Professor, USC ISE and SAE
–Team teach SAE 549, Systems Architecting, instructor since 2004
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A Definition of Heuristics
• A fuzzy (imprecise) context dependent technique well suited to messy (complex) system architecting problems (and to life’s challenges)
• Two kinds of heuristics
– Descriptive: Describes the situation
– Murphy’s Law “If anything can go wrong, it will”
– Prescriptive: What to do about it
– Keep it Simple Stupid (KISS)
– Simplify, Simplify, Simplify
– The simplest solution is usually the correct one (Occam’s Razor)
Source: Systems Architecting, Creating & Building Complex Systems, Eberhardt Rechtin, 1991
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Systems Architecting and Heuristics
• Systems architecting is both an applied science, like engineering, and an art like major parts of civil architecture, law and medicine
• Cited by Dr. Rechtin as one of the pioneers
– “demonstrated the cost relationship of cost modeling to systems architecting”
• Cost Model Heuristic– A measure of the status of a conceptual
model is the number of TBDs remaining in its cost model
Source: Systems Architecting, Creating & Building Complex Systems, Eberhardt Rechtin, 1991
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A Favorite Heuristic
• Choose Watch Choose
– Choose as best you can
– Watch to see whether solutions show up faster than problems
– If so, the choice was probably a good one
– But, if problems are showing up faster than solutions
– Revisit the decision that causes this to happen and choose again
Source: Systems Architecting of Organizations: Why Eagles Can’t Swim, Eberhardt Rechtin, 2000
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Attributes of a System Architect
• High tolerance for ambiguity
• The ability to work consistently at an abstract level
• The willingness to back track, to seek multiple solutions
• Self-discipline self-confidence, a locus of control
• A purpose orientation
• A sense of faith or vision
• Drive, a strong will to success
• Curiosity, a generalist’s perspective
Source: Systems Architecting, Creating & Building Complex Systems, Eberhardt Rechtin, 1991
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Organizations, People and Teamwork
• Definition of a system
– A set of elements so connected or related as to perform a unique function not performable by the elements alone
• Organizations can be better understood if viewed as complex systems
– creators of emergent values
– virtually everything is connected to everything else
Source: Systems Architecting of Organizations: Why Eagles Can’t Swim, Eberhardt Rechtin, 2000
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Organizations, People and Teamwork (con’t)
• Fellow, AIAA– Deputy Chair, Economics Technical Committee
• Fellow Life Member, Society of Women Engineers (SWE)– Past SWE LA President, Current SWE LA Awards
Chair and National Life Membership Coordinator
• Long time active member in Cost Societies– Past Board Chair, Board Member and Conference
Chair for International Society of Parametric Analysts (ISPA)
– Past representative, Space Systems Cost Analysis Group (SSCAG)
• Member, International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE)– Member, Corporate Advisory Board (CAB)
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Organizations, People and Teamwork (con’t)
• 8th habit – Find your voice and empower others to find theirs
– COSYSMO
– Code Counting Independent Research course
• Find solutions to barriers, both real and perceived
• Identify resources, be innovative
• Collaborate and build bridges
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Conclusion and Acknowledgements
• USC CSSE is woven into the fabric of my journey
• Humbly honored to receive the CSSE Lifetime Achievement Award
• Give tribute to past recipients Dick Stutzke and Gary Thomas
• Receive this award in the company of long-time true colleagues and friends
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