Dennis De Koning

Team Leader Systems Engineering at ADSE.

Beyond Tools: A Socio-Technical Approach to Systems
Engineering in Business Context

Bio.
Dennis de Koning is Team Leader Systems Engineering at ADSE. In his work as a Senior Consultant in the rail and aviation sector, he advises companies such as NS, ProRail, KLM Cityhopper and Schiphol. He combines a background in technology and business administration and focuses on the translation of complex analyzes into clear management language. His passion is guiding and coaching teams and individual team members at clients and in his own consultancy organization.

Abstract.

This contribution provides attendees with a practicalperspective on how to move beyond tool-driven SE towardscontext-driven application. Participants will gain insightsinto how this approach works out in real world projects.The business case for Systems Engineering (SE) is notalways straightforward. In some situations, SE is essentialto manage increasing technical complexity and financial andoperational risks. In others, it is applied simply becauseit is required by contract. Yet in many organizations, SEremains limited to theoretic frameworks, processes anddeficient tools, without convincingly demonstrating itsadded value.At ADSE, we see opportunities precisely in thosesituations. Organisations recognize complexity and feel asense of urgency but often lack confidence that SE willtruly help them achieve their goals. In this context, weare frequently asked to perform quick scans, gap analyses,or assessments. While these instruments are useful, theyare not an end in themselves. Rather, they serve as agateway to a deeper conversation.Effective application of SE does not start with models ormethodologies, but with understanding the broader businesscontext. This involves more than process optimization ormanaging technical and financial risks. It also includescompetitive positioning, collaboration, governance, andunderstanding of the underlying values and ambitions of anorganization. These aspects cannot easily be captured instandard models or tech heavy SE frameworks, yet they areessential for sustainable improvement.We believe that successful SE requires a socio-technicalperspective, where technology, organization, and people areaddressed in an integrated way – genuine systems thinkingin a business context. This demands investment inrelationships, in collaboration between commissioners andcontractors, and in co-creation rather than purelycontractual interactions. At the same time, we observe thatmodels and automation supported by AI are taking overroutine tasks such as requirements analysis.As a result, the role of the SE professional is evolvingfrom process guardian to connector between technology andbusiness. This means that listening, asking the rightquestions, and understanding context are just as importantas technical expertise. The ability to embed SE effectivelywithin the specific context of an organization is key toits success.For more than 30 years, ADSE has supported organizations inmaking this translation. With a pragmatic approach, weensure that SE is not a goal in itself, but a means thatworks in practice. In this contribution, we share insightsand real-world examples from various sectors, demonstratingthat SE truly adds value only when it is embedded in thebroader business context.Project examples include:• SE implementation @ERTMS (NS)• SE consultancy @Feadship• SE shaping @Foxtrot (Defence)• SE retrofit @NS• SE analysis @IHC