The State of Systems Engineering Technical Practice versus Discipline: A Survey of INCOSE Chapter Attendees in North America

Abstract

AbstractIn 2017, the author initiated a Systems Engineering (SE) Fundamentals Research Project to assess the “current state” of SE practice versus the “should be state” of the discipline of SE. Peer level Engineering often question and challenge SE as a domain of Engineering due to a lack of codified concepts, principles, and practices despite having a body of knowledge.This paper summarizes results of a series of research surveys concerning the “gap” between the state of SE practice versus the discipline of SE. Survey results represent “core samples” from INCOSE chapter meeting attendees at geographically dispersed locations in North America. Survey participants included INCOSE Systems Engineering Professionals (SEPs) i.e., INCOSE Acquisition SEPs (ASEPs), Certified SEPs (CSEPs), Expert SEPs (ESEPs), Non‐SEP members, and non‐members. Project survey results correlate with Wasson's (2018) personal assessment over 30 years and serve as a frame of reference for INCOSE's Future of SE (FuSE) Team for instituting corrective actions to achieve its Vision 2025.The paper concludes with findings and recommended corrective actions that industry, government, academia, professional societies, and standards organizations collectively need to reestablish SE technical core competency as a cornerstone of the discipline of SE. Then, in combination with SE Management and processes, achieve a proper balance between the two (Ryschkewitsch, et al, 2009).