SE

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Systems Engineering Initiatives at
NASA To GODDARD/SMA-D EDUCATION SERIES
Gregory L. Robinson NASA Deputy Chief
Engineer September 25, 2008
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Strategy to support NASA Vision

• Major Initiatives
• Establish Technical Authority
• Improve Program and Project Management
• Revitalize Systems Engineering

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Deployment of the NASA SE Framework

• Common Technical Processes
• SE NPR
• Center SE NPR Implementation Plans
• Center surveys (gap analysis)
• Center Procedural Requirements

• Tools and Methods
• NASA SE Handbook
• SE Body of Knowledge
• Art and Science of Engineering Space
  Systems monograph
• SE Bibliography References
• SE Community of Practice
• SE Wikii
• MBSE Initiative
• Center tool use surveys
• NASA Toolshed
• Center SE-specific websites

• Workforce, Knowledge and Skills
• SE Roadshow
• Understanding NPR 7123.1A course
• SE courses offered through NASA APPEL
• SE Workforce Development Strategy, SE Behaviors
• SE Leadership Development Program (SELDP)
• Center SE OJT programs, SE Mentoring
• SE Seminars, bi-annual SE Masters Forum,
• SE Track at PM Challenge
• SE Activity of the Year Award
• Characterization of SE workforce, SE Community
  (target audience)
• SE Survey

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Engineers Across NASA Described Systems
Engineering

• Prepare the documents necessary for key project
  milestonespoor
• Manage processesa good part, an enabler, but not
  enough
• Perform as the technical conscience of a
  projectnice but generic
• Design, realize, and manage the creation,
  development, and implementation of the system
  reasonable
• Know the technical red line through the system
  be able to anticipate effects of changes
  throughout the system and lifecyclereasonable
  but limited
• Maintain the big-picture perspective, integrating
  all disciplinesreasonable
• Maintain the projects technical integrity,
  whatever it takesreasonable

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What is Systems Engineering at NASA?

• Systems engineering is the art and science of
  developing an operable system that can meet
  requirements within imposed constraints.
• Systems engineering is holistic and integrative.
  It incorporates and balances the contributions of
  many disciplines, including systems safety, to
  produce a coherent whole that no single
  discipline dominates.
• Systems engineering is about tradeoffs and
  compromises, about generalists rather than
  specialists.
• Systems engineering is first and foremost about
  getting the right designand then about
  maintaining and enhancing its technical
  integrity, as well as managing complexity with
  good processes.

Neither the worlds greatest design, poorly
implemented nor a poor design, brilliantly
implemented is worth having.
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Maintaining Balance Among Subsystem Designs
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The Scope of Systems Engineering
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Systems Engineering Activities Span the Project
Lifecycle
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Realignment of Governing Documents
NPD 1000.0 Strategic Management Governance
Handbook NPD 1000.3 The NASA Organization
NPD 8700.1 NASA Policy for Safety Mission
Success
Mission Support Office NPDs
NPD 8900.5A NASA Health Medical Policy for
Space Exploration
NPD 7120.4 Acquisition
NPR 7123.1 Systems Engineering Procedural
Requirements (and Other Engineering NPRs)
NPR 7120.5 NASA Space Flight Program and Project
Management Requirements
OSMA NPRs
Support Org NPRs
NID 1240-41 and OCHMO NPRs
Health Medical Requirements
MSO Functional Requirements
SMA Requirements
Program/Project Mgmt Requirements
Engineering Requirements
NPD 7120.7
NPD 7120.8
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Common Technical Processes
3.1 Figure 3-1 SE Engine
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Role of SE in context of PM
Project
Systems Engineering
Project Control

• Management Planning
• Schedule Management
• Integrated Assessment
• Resource Management
• Acquisition management

• System Design
• Requirement Definition
• Technical Solution Definition
• Product Realization
• Design Realization
• Evaluation
• Transition

• Technical Management
• Technical Planning
• Technical Control
• Technical Assessment
• Technical Decision Analysis

• Planning
• Risk Management
• Configuration management
• Data Management
• Assessment
• Decision Analysis

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Development Activities for Systems Engineers
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Development Activities for Systems Engineers by
Performance Level
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An Example of Healthy Tension
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Summary
This vision will require a renewed emphasis on
systems engineering. In order to implement this
vision, NASA is pursuing an approach that takes
into consideration the latest reinvigoration of
systems engineering in other Government and
Industry initiatives.
The Best Systems Engineering Principals,
Processes, and Techniques Will Turn This Vision
into Reality