2006 UK Spring Conference Programme
24 & 25th April 2006 at the Swindon Marriott

Spring Conference 2006 - Programme, Monday 24th April

08:00 - 09:00 Registration

09:00 - 9:10 Opening Remarks - Andrew Farncombe, INCOSE UK Technical Director

09:10 - 12:30 Session 1: The Nature of Systems Engineering

09:10 Some really useful principles: A new look at the scope and boundaries of systems engineering, Hillary Sillitto, President INCOSE UK

What are the really useful principles and models that provide the foundation for modern systems engineering? And does the System Value Cycle work in the real world? Using historical case studies we show how outstandingly successful products are produced by a fusion of standard process with creative thinking, and that realising the business benefit of systems engineering requires us to balance the process approach with a focus on value.

09:50 Bridging Systems Engineering Views with a Structuring Matrix, David Battersby, Loughborough University

Design Structure Matrix (DSM) may be used to provide a unified information visualisation applicable across a range of both “hard” and “soft” systems engineering domains. It has uses in the planning and technical architecting of a system and provides a valuable method for visualisation and analysis throughout the systems engineering process.

11:00 Systems Engineering in the 21st Century, Professor Derek Hitchins

The world it seems is going to hell in a hand-basket: dwindling fossil fuel supplies; global warming; global terrorism; population growth; species collapse; increasing tempo of life, warfare; global shortage of fresh water; and that’s just for starters. Add in general process of socio-economic de-civilization – often called “popular culture” – and the long term prospects for humanity and our biosphere don’t look good. It doesn’t have to be that way – we can make it better by employing thoughtful systems engineering in our enterprises, industries and socio-economic systems.

11:45 Systems Thinking for Managing Projects, Professor David Stupples, City University

Through modelling the rework cycle and the feedback loops that drive it, using system dynamics it is possible to analyse and hence improve the dynamic behaviour of our projects. In this paper we show how a system dynamics model of a project is constructed and used to assess project outcome.

13:30 - 15:00 Session 2: Education and Competencies

13:30 The Core Competencies Of Systems Engineering, Doug Cowper, Sula Systems Ltd

This paper describes the work of an INCOSE UK Advisory Board working group, set up to define an agreed set of core competencies for Systems Engineering that would allow individuals and enterprises to establish an effective, transferable portfolio of skills, which can be deployed in systems projects. Such a set of core competencies will also provide a framework for education/training and assessment. This paper offers a set of core competencies for Systems Engineering and guidance on how to use them.

14:15 Can SE be taught at Undergraduate Level? Sue Goodlass, BAE SYSEMS

We all know that Systems Engineering is complicated and difficult and the only way to become a good practitioner is by long experience and learning from mistakes. .... Or is it?

15:30 - 17:00 Session 3: Organisational Aspects of Systems Engineering

15:30 Systems Engineering the Enterprise, Duncan Kemp, UK MOD

Duncan will give an overview of the techniques he uses and insights he has gained in running business transformation projects within UK Defence Acquisition. He will cover the use of systems thinking techniques to analyse systemic barriers to improvement, a simple business systems model to design business improvement projects and his "ten commandments" for running successful transformation programmes.

16:10 Enterprise Systemics: Systems Thinking for plotting Strategy at the 'Extended Enterprise' level, Allen Fairbairn, John Boardman Associates

This paper seeks to demonstrate the value of various systems techniques, and the system of systems concept in particular, to the design and management of key Extended Enterprise (or Value Web) activity. We use the term 'Enterprise Systemics' to describe use of a portfolio of systems techniques and we report on work done to develop a design approach that draws from diverse sources of systems type thinking. Case Study material is provided.

19:30 Conference Dinner. The Uffington Suite bar will open at 19:30 for pre-dinner drinks.

Dinner will be served at 20:00 hrs.

Lunch will be at 12.30 and refreshments at 10.30 and 15.00 approx.

Spring Conference 2006 - Programme, Tuesday 25th April

08:00 - 09:00 Registration

09:00 - 09:10 Opening Remarks, Andrew Farncombe

09:10 - 11:40 Session 4 : Applications

09:10 Emergence: Applying the Principles - using Genetic Algorithms to derive schedules, George McConnell, SELEX Communications UK

The use of techniques such as Genetic Algorithms can assist in avoiding some of the biases introduced and incorrect assumptions made by each of us when solving a problem. This paper discusses the benefits of using such a technique to solve a complex scheduling problem, describing the practical issues and pointing out some of the limitations of such an approach.

09:50 The development of Tools to help manage railway interfaces, Clive Roberts, University of Birmingham

Railway networks are distributed, complex systems with a large number of safety critical interfaces. This paper provides details of recent research work aimed at providing decision support for system designers, manufacturers, operators and maintainers.

11:00 Synthesis of an Anti-Terrorist Air Transportation Security System, Professor Mike Woodhead, Loughborough University

This paper provides a top-level introduction to a systems engineering approach which uses a functionally-based modelling framework to assess the vulnerability of an air transportation system (ATS) to identifiable terrorist threats. The approach illustrates the problem of countering such threats by developing a layered security system concept.

11:40 - 16:50 Session 5 : Processes

11:40 Safety assessment of system architectures, John Murdoch, University of York

This paper considers the application of safety assessment techniques to the architectural aspects of systems. Earlier reported work is reviewed and subsequent developments are discussed, including recent work on the measurement of system safety. The role of safety assessment in relation to system maturity and readiness assessment is also discussed.

13:30 The 'Learn from Experience' (LfE) journey in Systems Engineering, Brian Meakin, LFE Solutions

This paper is about the development, retention and re-use of tacit knowledge or wisdom as a generic process. As Systems Engineering can be expressed as a Socio-Technical activity it is appropriate that Systems Engineers utilise LfE to inform the Enterprise, Project and the personal knowledge base as early as possible in the project life to ensure the chosen system solutions are those with the best opportunity for success.

14:15 RACE for Faster, Better, Value, Professor Philip M’Pherson

This session will place the earlier RACE (Rapid Assessment of Cost Effectiveness) paper in the context of "SMART" Acquisition obtaining at the time of original publication and state what RACE was and is. Used in the early stages of system engineering projects, RACE helps select system solutions that extract real value rather than just minimising costs.

15:30 How does AP233 support a Systems Engineering process (eg ANSI/EIA-632)? An update, Dr Julian Johnson, SEIC - BAE SYSTEMS

This paper explains how the Systems Engineering data standard ISO 10303 AP233 provides support to a practical systems engineering process, in at least two ways: firstly by providing clarity to systems engineering concepts, and secondly by enabling practical support to interoperability of systems engineering support tools. The support is illustrated primarily in the context of ANSI/EIA 632. This re-presentation will conclude with thoughts on current status, challenges and opportunities.

16:10 System Test Metrics on a Development-Intensive Project, Paul Davies, Thales

This paper quantifies the effectiveness of system testing procedures, as a metric to be used in assessing fitness for delivery, with the aid of a case study. A similar metric to assess fitness of a statement of requirement as a basis for procurement, or release for design, is derived and measured. The presentation will include some additional findings, and correlations with project manpower profiles, analysed since original publication.

16:50 President’s Closing Remarks, Hillary Sillitto, President INCOSE UK