Application of systems engineering methodologies to transitions to sustainable technologies: An architecture framework supporting management of portfolios of sustainable technology transition projects

Abstract

Transition Management (TM) is a concept which has gained popularity as a means to affect large-scale shifts to more sustainable technologies. The transition management approach is a cyclical process built upon a multilevel perspective of technology transitions. There is also a growing body of research on systems engineering for sustainability, but the field remains focused in areas such as indicators or metrics for sustainability, optimization of design and/or selection decisions and processes, or techniques for evaluation of various projects or proposals, with limited research being conducted directly on the role of systems engineering within TM. This paper discusses the potential for systems engineering application within TM and presents a specific example of a system engineering application developed for use in TM implementation efforts. Requirements for an architecture framework to support a portfolio of TM projects were developed based on a comprehensive literature review. Based on these requirements, an overview and discussion of a Transition Management Portfolio Architecture Framework is presented. Initial results show the need for, and the application of a large body of literature to, such a framework. Further research will include further specification of the architecture framework design as well as validation utilizing a case study of a portfolio of transition projects.