Principles for successful systems and software processes

This paper summarizes several iterations in developing a compact set of four key principles for successful systems engineering, which are 1) Stakeholder Value-Based Guidance 2) Incremental Commitment and Accountability 3) Concurrent Multidiscipline Engineering, and 4) Evidence- and Risk-based Decisions. It provides a rationale for the principles, including short example case studies of failed projects that did not apply the principles, and of successful projects that did. It will compare the principles with other sets of principles such as the Lean Systems Engineering and the Hitchins set of principles for successful systems and systems engineering, and indicate how the principles will help projects and organizations cope with increasing needs for process diversity and change.