Getting SEAMS straight [systems engineering analysis and management support]

Systems engineering is lagging behind. Software engineering debacles have fuelled a vigorous response in the form of software tools, fourth generation languages, relational databases and yet more exciting plans; major systems engineering fiascos have, in fact, been even more spectacular but have as yet received no corresponding attention. The paper presents SEAMS, a metasystem for developing complex systems; SEAMS is a Systems Engineering Analysis and Management Support environment. There is a need not only to update, revitalise and re-present systems engineering to new generations of engineers, but also to provide practising systems engineers with modern tools and methods to increase their productivity. SEAMS is intended to fulfil that need. The paper presents a systems engineering code of practice and a set of standards as a basis upon which to build a SEAMS environment, shows the development stages which must be gone through, and presents a future vision of a fully implemented SEAMS environment in an organisation for implementing complex systems