Leading Teams for Successful Clean Sheet Programs

摘要

Clean sheet programs are characterized by little to no reuse, complex architecture and requirements, organizational complexity, and multiple hardware and software components. These programs encounter cost and schedule problems during execution more often than traditional programs due to lack of domain expertise, organizational challenges, and higher levels of risk in new technology. Clean sheet rotary wing programs, like new integrated cockpits, often bring together hundreds of engineers, all with various levels of domain knowledge and skills. Complex, clean sheet design efforts require not only high performing teams and detailed planning, but also agreed to process and methods for capturing requirements, defining operational concepts, system design, build, integration, verification, and validation. Without strong system engineering leadership, system and subsystem domain knowledge, and agreement on the methodology to execute a program, teams can quickly run into unforeseen challenges during system integration. This paper will focus on three strategies that mitigate some of the unique challenges of clean sheet programs: organization approach, onboarding of systems engineers, and design methodology. The organization approach will describe lessons learned on managing the impact of multiple hardware and software components within the system. Onboarding of systems engineers will describe an approach to address organizational complexity. Finally, design methodology will provide guidance and lessons learned on system engineering process and tools for complex architectures.