Top 5 Systems Engineering Issues within DOD and Defense Industry

Issue 2: Insufficient SE is applied early in the life cycle, compromising
the foundation for initial requirements and architecture development.
Discussion Points:
• Requirements, budgets, schedules established without adequate SE.
• Optimistic cost and schedule estimating.
• SE and PM functions are not well integrated, roles/responsibilities unclear.
• SE compromised in planning and design when SE value not understood.
• SoS inter-program complexity not accommodated in SE planning.
Recommendations:
Integrate engineering planning within the acquisition life cycle to ensure
adequate time and effort for SE early in the program life cycle.
• Expand SEP policy to address risks of inadequate SE prior to Milestone A
• Establish guidance on SE/PM roles, responsibilities, communications
• PMs ensure distribution of SE effort among prime and subcontractors
• Increase PM awareness of value of effective SE
• Provide guidance for SE activities needed for SoS
• Integrate acquisition processes with requirements, programmatics to
ensure procurement is consistent with schedule, resources, constraints
• Expand independent, non-advocate reviews of program formulation