Systems engineering is a multi-disciplinary field that covers technical as well as management aspects of a development effort. For a decade and a half, Strategic Analysis has been providing a plethora of services to support the development of a single system as well as the development of multiple concurrent systems, supporting all phases of the development life-cycle. Using industry-best practices, SA applies a consistent set of system engineering processes tailored to each program and client. Our principal clientele are members of the DoD R&D community.
SA services include:
Program Management
In its most basic form, successful Program Management is the set of management activities required to produce quality deliverables on time and within budget. Accomplishing this mission involves a complex set of intertwined activities that includes developing a program's objectives, identifying and scheduling milestones, determining costs, determining and assigning key personnel, establishing data requirements and acting as the primary point of contact for the client.
SA's program management approach places a premium on responsiveness, flexibility and communications. It is based on sound organizational concepts and employs a set of proven management tools that are tailored to meet each client's unique needs. Our ability to provide the highest quality program management is a matter of record with clients that include the Defense Science Board, DARPA and DHS.
Program Systems Engineering
A key element of any development effort is the synchronization of programmatic activities with support activities that include configuration management, logistics, data management, security, architecture and support of the implementation team. SA has been providing support staff that provides this linkage, coordinating multiple development efforts and advising program management on risks and other issues along wih helping to plan the total development effort. This support ensures program continuity, accurate information exchange with the client and overall team synergy. Our staff also has working knowledge of industry standards including CMMI and ISO that enable programs to ensure certification under these standards, as required.
Software Systems Engineering and Integration
Software development efforts require systems engineers with a skill set specific to the software domain. Strategic Analysis' software systems engineers have an understanding of the nuances associated with the development and integration of both new and commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) software and have a skill mix that includes:
Platform integration experience
Software architecture
COTS integration
Experience with multiple program languages
Hardware integration
Open Source solution implementation
Our staff can provide an understanding of the challenges associated with developing software as well as provide recommendations on how to address any challenges in order to fulfill the system requirements.
Configuration Management
Configuration Management (CM) is an activity to identify, manage and ensure that a change is properly implemented and documented. For new efforts, a CM program will need to be created and applicable tools identified to ensure revision controls are properly in place throughout the entire development lifecycle. Current programs should be reviewed periodically and revamped, as necessary, to ensure the right process and tools are being utilized.
Strategic Analysis has provided the range of CM activities including executing CM audits and providing independent reporting to government clientele. Our staff has active knowledge of open source CM tools such as SubVersionTM and BugzillaTM and COTS products such the RationalTM line of products and PVCSTM. SA has supported the AFRL since 1992both on-site and off-site in managing documentation and software including supporting the development of AFRL-specific business processes during the transition to a unified US Air Force research laboratory in the early 1990s. This support also included the development of a CM tool and the identification of key personnel. We have also supported other defense contractors' clients including Northrop Grumman and L-3 Communications in refining their CM process and monitoring their compliance with that process.
Modeling and Simulation
Testing of systems in recent years has become problematic because of the rapid evolution of new systems and the complexity of the national system-of-systems. Much of the traditional system development process is now performed in a virtual world through the utilization of modeling and simulation (M&S) software. The traditional process of developing hardware prototypes for test and evaluation purposes has been replaced by exercises.
Strategic Analysis (SA) currently is providing support for M&S programs of the US Army White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). These Government organizations are developing classified and unclassified M&S applications for evaluating system performance in the face of EMP and nuclear environments.
Requirements Management
At the core of Strategic Analysis' systems engineering services is the defining and management of the system requirements. While ensuring that all requirements are satisfied by a deliverable is critical, even more important is making sure that the requirements are accurate, complete and capture the intent of the customer's needs. SA provides services at the beginning of a development effort to ensure that the right requirements are identified, working closely with the clients to develop use cases, to capture the accurate verbiage and, if necessary, to develop prototypes. Once the requirements, are initially defined, we ensure the requirements are properly documented and tracked using simple files, custom tracking tools or robust tools such as RTMTM or DOORSTM. Our support of the requirements continues throughout the lifecycle as we help manage the requirements as new ones are added, or existing ones are modified or removed. This support also includes traceability of requirements at each phase of the development effort.
Validation and Verification
As the use of M&S software has increased, so have the requirements to ensure that good development practices are utilized and that the models themselves have been adequately evaluated for the intended use of the application. Validation and Verification (V&V) activities are a means to ensuring that requirements are satisfied and are now a standard part of the system specifications levied on developers. These V&V activities are executed hand-in-hand with the development, integration and testing of the M&S application.
As V&V requirements are new to many programs, SA has been at the forefront of identifying and executing required V&V activities to ensure that each M&S application attains the required accreditation. These M&S applications ultimately support users from Future Combat Systems (FCS) developers to STRATCOM operators.
Gap Analysis
Gap Analysis involves determining, documenting, and approving the difference between the requirements and current capabilities by examining technical implementations, personnel, and processes within an organization. Opportunities for improvement and risk/cost reduction are identified in a particular program by comparing optimal results to the actual results. Gap analysis may also provide justification for future funding of new systems.
SA has found that a gap analysis is a very useful tool not just for government clientele but commercial clientele as well. Through a series of gap analyses, we have been able to identify opportunities to improve efficiencies and maximize manpower. We have also been able to identify technologies and innovation that could improve a client specific process.
