The Seven Samurai of Systems Engineering Dealing with

The Seven Samurai of Systems Engineering Dealing with the Complexity of 7 Interrelated Systems James N Martin Systems Engineering Conference SEDC 2012 at GMU Washington, DC 15 May 2012 1

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A Film by Kurosawa (1954) • Tale of heroism and sacrifice – Samurai warriors hired by a Japanese village to protect against a band of marauding thieves • Some say… – “one of the greatest masterpieces in the history of the motion picture” – “what cinema is meant to be” 3

The American Wild West Version (1960) • Starring – Yul Brynner (leader of the 7) – Steve Mc. Queen – James Coburn – Charles Bronson • Some call it… – “the best Western ever made” 4

Problem (P 1) Context System (S 1) • First, there is a Problem to be solved • The Problem is part of the Context System 5

Problem (P 1) Context System (S 1) Context System Elements v Pre-Existing “Solutions” v Physical Environment (air, land, sea) v Regulatory Environment (laws, regulations, customs, ethics, stigmas) v Information (data, signals, noise) v Knowledge (information, knowledge, wisdom, “best” practices) But More Elements. . . v Anti-Knowledge (misinformation, lies, stupidity) v Emotions (love, hate, delight, disappointment) v Aesthetics (elegance, beauty, cultural expectations) 6

Problem (P 1) intended to address Context System (S 1) Intervention System (S 2) Systems Engineers try to conceive of a way to “suppress” the Problem 7

Problem (P 1) intended to address Context System (S 1) Intervention System (S 2) Problems System Solutions v Transport people quickly over long distances. Passenger Jet v Collect images quickly over entire earth. Imagery Satellite 8

Problem (P 1) Context System (S 1) needs to understand Realization System (S 3) intended to address Intervention System (S 2) The Intervention System must be: Ø Designed & Developed Ø Tested & Qualified Ø Produced & Deployed 9

Problem (P 1) Context System (S 1) needs to understand Realization System (S 3) intended to address Intervention System (S 2) Realization Systems Intervention Systems v Airbus + Air France + Airplane Standards + etc Passenger Jet v Boeing + Suppliers + US Gov’t + Regulations + Imaging Technology + Physics Knowledge + etc Imagery Satellite 10

Problem (P 1) Context System (S 1) needs to understand intended to address Realization System (S 3) Intervention System (S 2) becomes Deployed System (S 4) Deployed System is often different from the “as-designed” system 11

Problem (P 1) Context System (S 1) needs to understand intended to address Realization System (S 3) Intervention System (S 2) becomes Boeing 747 Deployed System (S 4) • 747 -100 s/n 345 • 747 -200 s/n 678 • 747 -419 s/n 321 • … 12

Problem (P 1) needs to understand intended to address Context System (S 1) Realization System (S 3) Intervention System (S 2) becomes Deployed System (S 4) needs to understand Modified Context System (S 1’) 13

Problem (P 1) needs to understand intended to address Context System (S 1) Realization System (S 3) Intervention System (S 2) becomes Problem (P 2) becomes may cause Deployed System (S 4) needs to understand Modified Context System (S 1’) 14

Problem (P 1) needs to understand intended to address Context System (S 1) Realization System (S 3) Intervention System (S 2) becomes Problem (P 2) becomes may cause Modified Context System (S 1’) Deployed System (S 4) needs to understand collaborates with Collaborating System (S 5) 15

Problem (P 1) needs to understand intended to address Context System (S 1) Realization System (S 3) Intervention System (S 2) may need to develop or modify becomes Problem (P 2) becomes needs to understand Deployed System (S 4) may cause Sustainment System (S 6) collaborates with Modified Context System (S 1’) Collaborating System (S 5) sustains 16

Problem (P 1) Context System (S 1) may address becomes Competing System (S 7) competes with Deployed System (S 4) Modified Context System (S 1’) 17

The 7 Samurai Problem (P 1) needs to understand intended to address Context System (S 1) Intervention System (S 2) may address Competing System (S 7) becomes competes with Problem (P 2) may need to develop or modify becomes needs to understand Deployed System (S 4) may cause Sustainment System (S 6) collaborates with Modified Context System (S 1’) Realization System (S 3) Collaborating System (S 5) sustains 18

Ø Systems engineers focus too much on one system — the Intervention System Ø Should use this as a framework to encourage true “systems” thinking Ø The 7 Samurai frame-work can lead to more holistic application of SE methods and tools 19