Date: 4 August 2015

Issue: 2015-5

In This Issue

Priming the Pump: Feeding the Innovative Process

Zane Scott, Vitech Vice President of Professional Services

In his book, A Technique for Producing Ideas, James Webb Young points out that in addition to understanding the domain in which the problem or challenge lies, the true innovator must have a wide understanding of the world in general. He says, “The more of the elements of that world which are stored away in that pattern-making machine, the mind, the more chances are increased for the production of new and striking combinations, or ideas.”  Read More.

Requirements, Desirements, and the 2015 World Police and Fire Games

Bethany Maddox, Vitech Customer Care Specialist

I'm feeling especially blessed as I return to the office after a week in Fairfax, Virginia at the 2015 World Police and Fire Games. A dear friend of mine is a National Park Ranger and came to the Games to compete in the triathlon. I came to the Games to spectate, cheer on my friend, and generally bask in the glow of these men and women who dedicate their lives to the service and safety of our communities.   Read More.

Moving Past Dogma

David Long, Vitech and INCOSE President

A highly respected colleague once presented a leading edge paper on model-based conceptual design at a conference. When he finished, a member of the audience – one considered by many to be a thought-leader in model-based systems engineering – stood up. He didn’t ask a question or offer an insight. Instead he chose to deride the presentation and dismiss it in its entirety based on a single point. The transgression? The presenter used a diagram from the traditional set of systems engineering representations rather than a SysML diagram. Read More.

The Dreaded System Requirements Review

Ron Kratzke, Vitech Principal Systems Engineer

In the course of my teaching CORE™ and GENESYS™ to customers I am often asked “How does all of the things you have taught us apply to completion of the System Requirement Review?” The answer to this question lies first in understanding why do we do the System Requirements Review (SRR). Then, in understanding how a model-based systems engineering (MBSE) process and toolset help you achieve the Exit Criteria for the SRR. Read More. 

SEMP-A-Dee-Doh-Dah, SEMP-A-Dee-Day

Gareth Digby, Vitech Principal Systems Engineer

The Systems Engineering Management Plan (SEMP) is a great document for describing to the systems engineering team and other stakeholders how the systems engineers will provide the solution. Systems engineering is as much about communication as it is about engineering. To be successful we have to communicate to others how we are going to provide a solution as well as describe the solution itself. Read More.