System engineering-the basis for management of engineering and technology

The newly formed National Council on System Engineering (NCOSE) is attempting to improve the practice of system engineering and stimulate the education and training of qualified individuals who can enter this practice. The author summarizes the history and fundamentals of system engineering that have been discussed by the NCOSE membership. The basic paradigm of system engineering-(1) to define functions (F) to be performed, (2) to specify measurable and testable requirements (R) describing how well each function must be performed, and (3) to conduct tradeoff studies among possible alternative solutions (A)-is a formalized method of common problem solving. Most popular management techniques are variations of this basic three-step process. It is concluded that understanding the application of these basic three Steps (F-R-A) is essential to evaluating alternative management processes for use in technical program management