A Framework for Complex System DevelopmentBy Paul B. Adamsen II

Industry, government, and academic efforts to create a generalized systems engineering process have repeatedly fallen short. The outcome? Systems engineering failures that produce losses like the September 1999 destruction of the Mars Climate Orbiter. A simple information transfer error between teams motivated far-reaching managerial and technical changes at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory-evidence of systems engineering complexity. Struck by the amount of chaos that can quickly develop from such intricacy, the author has devoted several years to the development and refinement of the framework delineated in this work to help you "control the chaos".

A Framework for Complex System Development develops a generalized process that distinguishes between "time" and "logical" domains-how I/O evolves over time versus the instantaneous program state. Explicitly characterized and identified, they preserve the framework. By combining these views, you get an application specific process, versatile enough for many different contexts. It also defines the technical activities that constitute the system development process and how they connect and interact with managerial activities. You will be able to integrate these activities and realize the maximum potential for success.

A key element to success in today's paradigm of "faster, better, cheaper" systems and decreasing resource levels is a clear, workable plan that can be easily implemented. A Framework for Complex System Development illustrates such a plan, distilling the essential aspects of system design into a logical process for a well-organized development program. With A Framework for Complex System Development, you can use the author's approach-developed in the crucible of the real world-to develop sound complex systems in an organized and efficient manner.