Improving the practice of systems engineering: Boot strapping grass roots success

Abstract

This paper describes how to use a positive deviance-inspired process for improving the practice of systems engineering, and how positive deviance fits into an evolutionary improvement strategy. It illustrates the process with examples from both systems engineering and cases studies outside of systems engineering. In particular we cite the experience of the team that authored the DoD Systems Engineering Guide for Systems of Systems (SoS) [Ref 1]. They developed a representation of how successful SoS engineering practitioners view and do systems engineering that is substantially different from their individual system counterparts. The cases outside of systems engineering relate to an antistarvation program in rural Vietnam and a 150-year old problem of inadequate hand scrubbing and infections in hospitals [Ref 2]. Even with substantial progress in technology, processes, and efficiencies, complex problems from enterprise systems engineering to nutrition to medical needs still stubbornly resist improvement. By using a positive deviance-inspired approach, this can be reversed.