How can you tell if your systems engineering solutions are effective?

They achieve the desired outcome. You can estimate the delay between the solution and the desired outcome, but if it's way too long, something's wrong.

In most of the system engineering implementation,you need to what understand the problem and define it .Requirement understanding from customer and understanding the needs is the first critical phase in system engineering.We need to understand the problem as a whole and find holistic solutions.continous handshake between all the stakeholders and associated parties is a must for successful implementation of System engineering.This needs to be continuous process till the goal is achieved

Defining the problem is critical. One must begin with the end in mind. Be willing to spend the effort necessary to understand what is to be accomplished and be willing to periodically double check objectives. Honest assessment of System Engineering Objectives is key. No shortcuts!

Key indicators to determine effectiveness of systems engineering solutions include: meeting objectives and requirements, stakeholder satisfaction, performance metrics, cost-effectiveness, and adaptability/scalability. By monitoring these factors and making necessary adjustments, the effectiveness of solutions can be analyzed and improved for success.

To add to the above Use computer simulations. Create digital versions of the systems to predict the performance and effective. If needed make improvements before building system in real life.

V-model shift-Left is a V&V practice intended to find and prevent defects in concepts, requirements, and designs early in the acquisition process. It is commonly known that major defects are introduced early in the acquisition process but do not surface until later when they are more costly and challenging to resolve. Shifting to the left V&V creates opportunities to V&V work products as soon as possible. Engaged early in the lifecycle to detect and resolve defects and issues when they are less costly and more easily addressed. Early and often V&V will reduce the chances of deficiencies in fielded systems. This can optimize the acquisition lifecycle and foster cost-effective, knowledge-driven outcomes through effective V&V/T&E activities.

Being effective means that desired result was sucessfully achieved. For a system, to be effective means that the system attends what was conceived in the Concepts of Operation document. Using the V diagram, in the System Validation stage that we assure that the right System for the job was build. In that stage we need to verify that all the stakeholder needs were satisfied by the System.

The V-model in systems engineering ensures that solutions are validated at each development stage, from requirements specification to implementation. Each stage has planned tests and integration activities, helping to identify and correct discrepancies early. This structured approach reduces risks and aligns development with system validation, enhancing solution effectiveness.

In my experience, V-model for the win in systems engineering! It maps development to testing phases, ensuring solutions meet requirements at every step. This alignment prevents functionality mismatches and helps identify risks early for proactive mitigation. Think of it as a roadmap to high-quality, successful systems!

Read my book “Mission Success in Space” to see how at NASA GSFC Systems Engineering, we inserted success factors into the design and build of a highly successful JWST Program. Both Hardware and Software were addressed early in the design and build stages.

Using metrics and indicators is crucial for assessing the effectiveness of systems engineering solutions. These quantitative tools measure progress, performance, and compliance with specified requirements. Key performance indicators (KPIs) and other metrics should be established during the planning phase, and monitored throughout the project lifecycle. This allows for ongoing evaluation and adjustment, ensuring that the system performs as intended and meets stakeholder needs effectively.

We can imagine like having a compass and map for our systems engineering project! Metrics and indicators act as those tools, guiding us towards success. These are measurements, both numerical and descriptive, that track our project's health. They help us to monitor progress throughout development, verification, and even after the system is up and running. By comparing what's happening with what we planned, we can identify areas for improvement and ensure everything aligns with our goals. Think of things like cost, schedule, and how reliably the system works. By keeping an eye on these metrics, we gain valuable insights to steer our project in the right direction and deliver good solutions or methodology or product.

Consider including Cost as a requirement that is allocated and flowed down to subsystems simultaneously with technical requirements. Too many systems are designed with cost handled separately from technical requirements, by different people and configuration boards, and they can easily become misaligned. Enforce an analysis of cost for every technical requirement change, and vice versa. And don't make a cost requirement change more difficult to implement than a technical requirement change.

Reviews and audits are pit stops on your systems engineering highway, ensuring your solutions stay on track. These check-ups, formal or informal, happen throughout development and involve various experts. In the fast-paced world of semiconductors, imagine a design review catching a potential power consumption issue before it blows the budget. Or a design verification audit identifying a logic error that could cause a chip malfunction. Reviews and audits ensure compliance, consistency, and accuracy across requirements, designs, and documentation – all to catch problems early and steer your project to success!

Conducting reviews and audits is vital for verifying the effectiveness of systems engineering solutions. Regular reviews, such as design reviews, system audits, and compliance checks, ensure that the project adheres to its specifications and requirements at every stage. These activities help identify deviations and potential improvements, facilitating timely interventions. They are crucial for maintaining project integrity, ensuring that the final product meets all user needs and system requirements effectively.

Soliciting feedback and documenting lessons learned are essential practices in systems engineering to ensure the effectiveness of solutions. Feedback from users, stakeholders, and project team members provides direct insights into system performance and user satisfaction. Incorporating this feedback into current and future projects enhances the solution's relevance and usability. Lessons learned from each project phase should be systematically recorded and reviewed to improve methodologies, tools, and processes in future projects, fostering continuous improvement in systems engineering practices.

Have a long term Vision with a roadmap. Think it through before you start with it. Define your OKR and KPI, Measure, Baseline, Monitor, derive data driven useful insights/analytics/trends and keep improving.

Soliciting feedback can tell you what's unique or different between failure modes & solution sets. Look for instances of hidden failure modes in your designs, a simple failure that's easily fixed by users can be hiding one that's critical. So, examining even "routine" stuff can be important.

Uma abordagem eficaz para melhorar continuamente as soluções de engenharia de sistemas é estabelecer um processo contínuo e estruturado para a coleta e análise de feedback e lições aprendidas. Envolver diversas partes interessadas nesse processo garante uma visão abrangente e multifacetada que pode revelar aspectos críticos que poderiam ser negligenciados de outra forma. Dito isto, também é essencial documentar e compartilhar essas lições aprendidas para promover a melhoria contínua e evitar a repetição de erros em projetos futuros. Refletir regularmente sobre o feedback também pode fortalecer a cultura de transparência e colaboração dentro da equipe de engenharia de sistemas.

I see feedback is our secret weapon in systems engineering! Imagine a chip designer learning from testers that a new design runs hotter than expected. This valuable insight can help them improve thermal management in future chips. Feedback can come from anyone involved: customers, engineers, testers through surveys, interviews, or project reports. By analyzing this goldmine of information, we can identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities to optimize our systems engineering process. This way, we can continuously improve, ensuring future projects deliver next-generation performance!

Applying continuous improvement in systems engineering involves regularly evaluating and refining processes, tools, and solutions based on feedback, performance data, and lessons learned. This iterative process ensures that systems not only meet current requirements efficiently but also adapt to new challenges and evolving stakeholder needs. By embracing change and seeking incremental enhancements, systems engineers can drive ongoing value creation and maintain the relevance and efficacy of their engineering solutions over time.

Engineers tend to naturally work in a vacuum without knowledge of the big picture, the customer's goals or schedule. The systems engineer must facilitate the required visibility and improve communication within the team.

Particularmente, refletindo sobre a importância da melhoria contínua, percebo que adotar essa mentalidade e prática é crucial para aumentar a eficácia das soluções de engenharia de sistemas. Aplicando o ciclo Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA), consigo planejar cuidadosamente minhas atividades e critérios de avaliação, executar os métodos e ferramentas de avaliação, verificar os resultados e descobertas, e agir com base nas recomendações. Esse processo iterativo permite não apenas resolver problemas à medida que surgem, mas também uma constante adaptação às necessidades de mudança. A melhoria contínua não deve ser considerada apenas uma técnica, mas um compromisso com a excelência e a evolução constante das práticas de engenharia de sistemas.

Being a system, it usually will have multiple KPIs. A good system engineering solution enable you to understand the system, which means that you have a means to improve most of the system KPIs, while finding a good enough trade-offs for the rest of the KPIs.

It solves the customer problem while not leading them into a blind tech alley. The customer is satisfied and singing your praises and the AM's are fighting over you for future support....

When you pull the trigger you don’t just hear click. The user determines success. The engineer listens and corrects based on the user’s evolving feedback. Your because you designed the system, doesn’t necessarily make it useable.

Requirement changes are inevitable in customer facing projects. We need to set the process to review incoming change request N intercept plans and trade off options. Mandate the Listing down of the trade off option with evry new change request might helps. BKM: 1. Close Design and architecture and complete Arch hackathon with test case review in phase 1 (definition phase) 2. Validate feature complete in simulation env 3. Complete implementation hackathon by ⍺ 4. Complete pentesting before β 5. Run post matrum and collect the learnings and mitigiations before PC release