Project

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Assessing the Impact of Development Disruptions and Dependencies in System of Systems (SoS)

    Enterprises and System of Systems
Principal Investigators:
Dr. Karen Marais

Co-Principal Investigators:
Dr. Navindran Davendralingam
Dr. Daniel DeLaurentis

Abstract

Objectives:  To develop and test methods that quantify the impact of system interdependencies in the context of System of Systems capability development. The products of the research can guide system engineering and architecture design activities. A variety of methods are investigated to conduct analysis of alternatives while navigating the decision space that simultaneously considers the potential positive impacts of interdependencies (e.g., a new System of Systems capability) and negative impacts (e.g. consequences of disruption). Task 36 centered on quantifying the impact of system interdependencies in the context of System of Systems capability development; this was accomplished through exploration of a set of candidate methods, processes and tools aimed at accomplishing this. Task 44b continued this research by focusing on verification and test of each method via synthetic demonstration problems. The ongoing Task 108 work is seeking to formalize the methods in the context of an System of Systems Analytic Workbench (AWB). An effective Workbench would be understandable and usable by practitioners in navigating the decision space involved in System of Systems capability development. More specifically, the Workbench would support trade-off analysis on cost, performance and resilience, among other metrics, while considering the effect of interdependencies.

Approach:  The approach for the first phase of the project was to “educate first”:

  • Categorize types/styles of System of Systems architectures, metrics for System of Systems performance and development, and interdependency features that must be addressed by analysis methods
  • Define and translate the meaning of metrics for the System of Systems context and determine which metrics can be computed under which assumptions, for each candidate analysis method
  • Develop instructive synthetic examples to test the analysis methods; look for case studies
  • Define requirements for metrics against a variety of System of Systems types and patterns.

The approach for the second phase of the project was to “explore and refine”:

  • Develop advancements in the Methods and Tools in the context of actual System of Systems processes and in support of activities and artifacts of the System of Systems SE Wave Model process
  • Rerun studies and engage experts to evaluate efficacy of alternate analysis methods

The approach for the third phase of the project is based on definition and refinement of the System of Systems Analytic Workbench:

  • Refinement of methods, processes, tools and tool interface based on feedback and collaborator driven requirements from initial demo workbench deployment in first 6-month phase.
  • Continued fulfillment of agreed upon exchange with NSWCDD based on signed MOU
  • Explore options for deployment of refined version of demo tools for collaborator/DoD sponsor community use
Deliverables
Publications
Transition