Pascal Etman

The SE Compass: A Holistic Model for Systems Engineering Practice

Bio Pascal Etman.

Pascal Etman is associate professor in the Control Systems Technology section of the department Mechanical Engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology. His research and teaching covers systems design, systems engineering and engineering optimization subjects. Typical applications include high-tech systems, infra-structural systems, and big-science systems. He has scientific publications in a variety of areas including multidisciplinary design optimization, engineering design, manufacturing systems, and systems engineering.

Bio Saber Darmoul

Saber Darmoul is Associate Professor of Systems Engineering at the University of Twente. He worked in renowned engineering education institutions in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region, such as the French SIGMA Clermont, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia, and Ecole Centrale Casablanca, Morocco. His teaching areas relate to systems design, simulation, decision-making, Enterprise Architecture, Production and Project management. His research interests focus on exploring the use of distributed artificial intelligence (multi-agent, holonic and bionic/bio-inspired systems) to monitor and control disturbances and risks in cyber-physical systems. Applications include Intelligent Manufacturing Systems (IMS), and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)

Abstract.

A comprehensive Systems Engineering (SE) reference model is introduced in the form of a compass. The model has been developed as part of the ongoing NXTGEN Systems Engineering project. The SE compass systematically delineates the principal domains of SE and provides shared reference points for both educational and industrial contexts. The SE compass articulates the triadic relationship among SE subjects, SE competencies, and SE roles. The SE Compass comprises eight subject areas: Business, Context, System-of-Interest, Architecture Reference, Engineering Know-how, SE Know-how, SE Processes, and Organization. These areas are positioned within the compass such that they may be interpreted in both cardinal and ordinal directions, which correspond to distinct SE responsibility orientations. The compass subject areas and their associated keywords have been chosen drawing upon INCOSE’s SE Handbook as a primary reference. The center of the compass displays the Systems Engineer, represented through SE Competencies and SE Roles. Validation of the SE Compass was conducted through two use cases: first, as a navigational instrument in company workshops to characterize organizational systems engineering practices; and second, in the analysis of job function responsibilities articulated in SE role descriptions across multiple seniority levels.