Our AI team takes a deep dive into a 2011 INCOSE symposium paper which argues that systems engineering lacks a unifying theory. The authors, Dr Joseph Kasser and Prof Derek Hitchins, identify disparate camps within the field, characterized by differing focuses on processes, problems, or the discipline itself. They propose a solution: seven principles for designing “solution systems,” aiming to improve systems engineering practice by focusing on the outcome rather than the process.
These principles emphasize a clear objective, comprehensive concept of operations, and holistic system design through modular subsystems. The goal is to achieve the level of success seen in NASA’s Apollo program.
The paper may be found at https://therightrequirement.com/pubs/2011/Unifying%20systems%20engineering-2.pdf
