SERC TALKS: “How Can Model Governance Aid Digital Engineering Execution?”

Continuing the “Celebrating Systems Engineering Digitalization” Talk series, we are pleased to have Dr. Heidi Davidz, an Engineering Fellow in the Intelligent Systems Engineering team at ManTech International Corporation, explore ‘how model governance can aid digital engineering execution’. This Talk series is curated and will be moderated by Tom McDermott, SERC Chief Technology Officer, Stevens Institute of Technology.

Abstract

As Digital Engineering employs a digital thread with a broad range of interconnected models, it can be difficult to govern linked models across disciplines and contractual boundaries. After an introduction to model governance in this context, the importance of governance is discussed and the relationship to solution debt described. Contributing standards are reviewed, and characteristics of a solution provided. As an example, the ManTech Elastic Model Governance Guide for the digital thread is shown. Key features include: (1) model-based guidance with in-model work instructions; (2) integration of the overall Model Governance System, Digital Engineering Environment infrastructure, individual models, and composite models; (3) scoping of model purpose and resolution of solution debt; (4) automated validation for insight on compliance; (5) customization for flexibility and tailoring. Excerpts from this governance guide are provided and discussed, and next steps are given. Potential model governance research topics are suggested. Integrating model governance practices with additional mechanisms for flexibility, scalability, and automated validation provides robust control over the Digital Engineering ecosystem to enhance the value delivered to customers.

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