This course is designed to provide the participants with an
understanding of the scope of systems integration, different SI
approaches to design, architect and implement integrated systems,
tools and techniques to measure the successful implementation of SI
and best practices. The objective of the course is to provide the
students an understanding of the technical and business process
issues involved in systems integration.   
Systems integration process is illustrated over the life cycle concept
of projects – during design, development, implementation, testing and
production.  Examples will be drawn primarily from the Information
Technology (IT) industry domain but will be supplemented with guest
speakers.   The students will learn the theory and practice of business process
integration, legacy integration, new systems integration, COTS
integration, application integration (ERP, CRM, and Supply Chain),
architecture integration (protocols, connectivity, and database
systems), integrated program management. Specific focus will be
given to issues of interface management and testability.

Pre-readings:

Pre-reading material

This project-based course exposes students to tools and methodologies useful for the effective management of systems engineering and engineering management projects. This course presents the tools and techniques for project definition, work breakdown, estimating, resource planning, critical path development, scheduling, project monitoring and control, and scope management. These tools will be presented within the context of a life cycle and a systems approach. Students will be exposed to advanced project management software. Reinforcing these fundamentals in project management, the course will introduce advanced concepts in project management, and establish the building blocks for the management of complex systems.

Traditional systems engineering techniques must be adapted to understand a broader class of human designed systems that we refer to as an enterprise, of which a technical system is only one part. Students will learn how describe the value of systems engineering on complex projects, provide a (common) global view of the system and enterprise, elicit and write good requirements, and understand how to develop robust and efficient architectures. Students should complete this class with “next steps” knowledge of tools, templates, capability patterns, and community. Case studies and examples are used throughout to give students an appreciation of how systems engineering tools, techniques, and thinking can be applied to the real world enterprises that we encounter daily.

This course discusses fundamentals of systems engineering. Initial focus is on need identification and problems definition. Thereafter, synthesis, analysis, and evaluation activities during conceptual and preliminary system design phases are discussed and articulated through examples and case studies. Emphasis is placed on enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of deployed systems while concurrently reducing their operation and support costs. Accordingly, course participants are introduced to methods that influence system design and architecture from a long-term operation and support perspective.

Pre-Readings:

Appendix A:Value of Systems Engineering - INCOSE Paper
Appendix B: Lou Gerstner's Letter
Appendix C: Why the VASA sank
Appendix D: Being Clear about requirements
Appendix E: Quality Function Deployment
Appendix F: Quality Function Deployment - Analysis
Appendix G Quality Function Deployment - Quantitative
RM Obscure SE_WP
A space based polar augmentation system enabling for truly global communication-navigation applications
Appendix H: IBM SE Case Study
Appendix I: Risk and performance paper
Appendix J: Top 5 NDIA SE issues
Instructions for downloading CORE

This will test the knowledge of students who have achieved the equivalent of Level I certification through the Defense Acquisition University. Typically students take 80 hours training for this certification level equivalent. Upon successful completion (graded pass/fail), students will be awarded 3 credits toward a Master of Engineering in Systems Engineering. Tuition for this exam will be 1/3 of the current tuition for a 3 credit hour class.

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This will test the knowledge of students who have achieved the equivalent of Level II certification through the Defense Acquisition University. Typically students take more than 160 hours training for this certification level equivalent. Upon successful completion (graded pass/fail), students will be awarded between 3 and 6 credits toward a Master of Engineering in Systems Engineering. Tuition for this exam will be 1/3 of the current tuition for a 3 credit hour class.

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This course examines real-world space missions and space design. Taking a process oriented approach, the course starts with basic mission objectives and examines the principals and practical methods for mission design and operations in-depth. Interactive discussions focus on key system engineering issues like initial requirements definition, operations requirements definition, operations concept development, architecture tradeoffs, pay load design, bus sizing, subsystem definition, system manufacturing, verification, and operations. This course provides end-to-end technical space systems engineering information necessary to management the technical baseline of a project.

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This course provides hands-on opportunities to apply key principals of space systems engineering. Students are given a set of customer expectations in the form of broad mission objectives. Using state-of-the-industry mission design and analysis tools, students apply systems engineering processes to define top-level system requirements, design key elements, and conclude with a system design review. In V&V, participants experience system realization processes first hand by integrating, verifying, validating, and delivering the shoe box–sized EyasSAT satellite. From the part-level to the system level, participants implement a rigorous assembly, integration, verification, and validation plan on space hardware/software applying “test like you fly, fly like you test” principles.

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The supportability of a system can be defined as the ability of the system to be supported in a cost effective and timely manner, with a minimum of logistics support resources. The required resources might include test and support equipment, trained maintenance personnel, spare and repair parts, technical documentation, and special facilities. For large complex systems, supportability considerations may be significant and often have a major impact upon life-cycle cost. It is therefore particularly important that these considerations be included early during the system design trade studies and design decision-making.

Pre-readings:

The SDOE Program: Experiences and Lessons Learned

This course provides the participant with the tools and techniques that can be used early in the design phase to effectively influence a design from the perspective of system reliability, maintainability, and supportability. Students will be introduced to various requirements definition and analysis tools and techniques to include Quality Function Deployment, Input-Output Matrices, and Parameter Taxonomies. An overview of the system functional analysis and system architecture development heuristics will be provided. Further, the students will learn to exploit this phase of the system design and development process to impart enhanced reliability, maintainability, and supportability to the design configuration being developed. Given the strategic nature of early design decisions, the participants will also learn selected multiattribute design decision and risk analysis methodologies, including Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). As part of the emphasis on maintainability, the module addresses issues such as accessibility, standardization, modularization, testability, mobility, interchangeability and serviceability, and the relevant methods, tools, and techniques. Further, the students will learn to exploit this phase of the system design and development process to impart enhanced supportability to the design configuration being developed through an explicit focus on configuration commonality and interchangeability, use of standard parts and fasteners, adherence to open system standards and profiles, and use of standard networking and communication protocols. Examples and case studies will be used to facilitate understanding of these principles and concepts.

Pre-readings:

Application of RCM
FMECA Application
TLCSM Guide

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This course discusses the fundamentals of system architecting and the architecting process, along with practical heuristics. Furthermore, the course has a strong "how-to" orientation, and numerous case studies are used to convey and discuss good architectural concepts as well as lessons learned. Adaptation of the architectural process to ensure effective application of COTS will also be discussed. In this regard, the course participants will be introduced to an architectural assessment and evaluation model. Linkages between early architectural decisions, driven by customer requirements and concept of operations, and the system operational and support costs are highlighted. Prerequisite: SYS 625.

Pre-readings:

Pre-course Sample Project
SDOE 650 Pre-course Instructions
Technical Paper Assignment
Pre-course Grading Template
Instructions for downloading CORE

This course is designed to enable engineers, scientists, and analysts from all disciplines to recognize potential benefits resulting from the application of robust engineering design methods within a systems engineering context. By focusing on links between sub-system requirements and hardware/software product development, robust engineering design methods can be used to improve product quality and systems architecting. Topics such as Design and Development Process and Methodology, Need Analysis and Requirements Definition, Quality Engineering, Taguchi Methods, Design of Experiments, Introduction to Response Surface Methods, and Statistical Analysis of Data will be presented.

This course is a study of analytic techniques for rational decision-making that addresses uncertainty, conflicting objectives, and risk attitudes. This course covers modeling uncertainty; rational decision-making principles; representing decision problems with value trees, decision trees and influence diagrams; solving value hierarchies; defining and calculating the value of information; incorporating risk attitudes into the analysis; and conducting sensitivity analyses. Prerequisite: Course in Probability and Statistics

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This course illustrates the theory and practice of designing and analyzing supply chains. It provides tool sets to identify key drivers of supply chain performance such as inventory, transportation, information and facilities. Recognizing the interactions between the supply and demand components, the course provides a methodology for implementing integrated supply chains, enabling a framework to leverage these dynamics for effective product/process design and enterprise operations.

Pre-readings:

Pre-Module Instructions

This course covers the theory and application of modeling aggregate demand, fragmented demand and consumer behavior using statistical methods for analysis and forecasting for facilities, services and products. It also aims to provide students with both the conceptual basis and tools necessary to conduct market segmentation studies, defining and identifying criteria for effective segmentation, along with techniques for simultaneous profiling of segments and models for dynamic segmentation. All of this provides a window on the external environment, thereby contributing input and context to product, process and systems design decisions and their ongoing management.

Dynamic pricing is defined as the buying and selling of goods and services in free markets where the prices fluctuate in response to supply and demand and changing. This course illustrates the difference between static and dynamic pricing, and covers various dynamic pricing models and methodologies for successful pricing. This course also illustrates the fact that effective pricing optimization is based on modeling of demand and elasticity of demand at a very granular level. It will explore various dynamic pricing models and explore and identify factors relevant in choosing dynamic pricing models that best support the operational effectiveness, external environment and business strategy of a particular firm.

For a variety of business reasons, today’s business and government organizations are demonstrating a heightened interest in governance. Development programs and organizations have unique governance concerns due to inherent uncertainty of development efforts. Moving beyond platitudes, this course introduces modern concepts of organizational governance and their application to organizations that develop systems and products. Course topics include the business climate forcing an emphasis on governance; a general governance framework, including definitions of governance elements; governance as a process; governance solutions for the development teams; development governance styles; and advanced topics. (Formerly SDOE 690 Development Governance)

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Real-time responsiveness characterizes systems at the forefront of competition, enterprise, strategy, warfare, governance, innovation, engineering, development, information, integration, and virtually anything designed today for purpose. This course covers fundamental objectives, performance metrics, analysis frameworks, and design principles for engineering agile and resilient systems. Real examples are analyzed in case studies for their change proficiency and response ability. Response capability frameworks are applied in analysis and requirements development. Architecture and design principles which enable resilient and innovative response are illuminated and then applied in synthesis exercises. Hands-on, minds-on exercises prepare and guide the participant in applying the knowledge. Systems for case study and focus can run the range from products and processes to governance and infrastructure to enterprises and systems-of-systems.(Formerly SDOE 780)

Pre-readings:

Module Reading Material
ResponseAbility
www.devx.com/architect/Article/32761
www.devx.com/architect/Article/32836

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This course presents a systems architecting process to achieve enterprise integration both within and between corporate boundaries. The process leverages systems thinking - the antithesis of scientific reductionism, which fails to appreciate the interrelationships between components that make-up a system. Systems thinking has proven to be successful in the delivery of integrated technology products, and is now being applied to understanding the structure and dynamics of organizations for which communications and co-stuff in general is a key to business success; in other words inter-relationships are prime in managing an enterprise. The systems approach further emphasizes emergence, wider systems and the environment. These concepts are crucial to architecting an enterprise in consideration of issues of decentralization, alliance advantage, and market phenomena. Perquisite ES 675.

Pre-readings:

From make buy to make disciples
In the company of others

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This course introduces the attributes associated with the design and management of the human activity system that is responsible for designing, developing, testing, operating, and maintaining the system. It is built on a fundamental that the successful development of a system is directly contingent on the human system. Using foundational constructs related to network theory and the extended enterprise, it covers topics in Globalization and the Extended Enterprise; Structure and Design of Organizations; Organizational Diversity; Leadership and Power; Personality, Attitude, and Values; Learning and Perception; Work Motivation; Group Behavior and Teamwork; Conflict and Politics; Managing Communication Process; Decision Making; and Organizational Change and Development. Case studies and academic research are used to provide a practical and advanced understanding of the subject.

The course introduces students to system dynamics models of business policy analysis and forecasting of associated management problems of complex systems and enterprise. The course covers advanced techniques of policy and strategy development applications: system thinking and modeling dynamics of growth and stability, including interaction of human factors with the technology. The tools of increasing power and complexity are offered for student’s business and management applications: causal feedback diagrams, technology process graphs, information processing flowcharts, decision scenarios. Students will get hands-on training in systems modeling by STELLA and AnyLogic software languages and perform their own case studies of real system of technology and/or business development. Prerequisite: Course in statistics.

The frontier of systems engineering today seeks new levels of system capability and behavior, and expects to find that benefit in higher forms of systems that elude traditional control and creation concepts. Common themes converge here in a study of agility across a seemingly wide variety of interesting system types, characterized principally by aspects of self-organization and systems of systems. Esthetic quality in systems and enterprises makes the difference between enforced compliance and embraced experience; and determines the positive or negative vectors of self-organization and emergence. This module explores the value and nature of esthetic design quality, principles and architectures for harnessing self organized systems of systems, agility as risk management and reality confrontation, and similar issues at the edge of agile system and enterprise knowledge. Pre-requisite: ES/SDOE 678

Pre-Readings:

Pre-course Reading Materials

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It takes something special for the term system to have such ubiquity. The downside is that it is overused, improperly so, detracting from its power. This class builds upon a solid conceptual foundation to ensure that the system/enterprise is properly defined, conceived, and realized. Uniquely, the class shows how it is possible to use systems in order to think more deeply and to act more decisively. This approach is made possible by emphasizing the simultaneity of perspectives, the role of paradox, and the centrality of soft issues in resolving complexity. The SystemitoolTM is used to structure and conduct analysis of decisions. This class is aimed at policy and decision-makers at all levels in an organization. (Formerly ES/SDOE 675) Prerequisite: SYS 625 or ES 621.

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