Blog 4: What is Systems Engineering (SE)?

In a nutshell, Systems Engineering (SE) is a multi-disciplinary approach to reducing risk in the design, development, procurement, integration, and testing of a system with engineering rigor. The methodologies within each step are expansive enough to be used in complex multi-system, interoperable, and enterprise-level system-of-systems. This includes weapons systems, IT systems, process improvements, and cyber integration. This works for initial ideas and designs, as well as modernization of existing capabilities. Agile processes should be used throughout the SE lifecycle (initial planning, concept, development, implementation, operations and maintenance, and retirement).  

There are many excellent authoritative references for how to include SE in your acquisition, a few referenced below:

INCOSE: https://www.incose.org/about-systems-engineering

MITRE’s SE Guide: https://www.mitre.org/sites/default/files/publications/se-guide-book-interactive.pdf

SE Body of Knowledge (BoK): https://sebokwiki.org/wiki/System_Life_Cycle_Models

Defense Acquisition University: (https://www.dau.edu/acquipedia-article/systems-engineering-process

DoD Systems Engineering Guidebook: https://ac.cto.mil/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Systems-Eng-Guidebook_Feb2022-Cleared-slp.pdf