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Systems Engineering ‘in the large’

Jun 22, 2008 by JD

In software engineering, you can think of two levels: micro-level and macro-level.  On the micro-level, this is systems engineering ‘in the small.’ On the macro-level, there’s systems engineering ‘in the large.’  The two levels are complimentary. In Scenarios, Stories, Use Cases: Through the Systems Development Life-Cycle, Ian F. Alexander and Neil Maiden write about systems engineering ‘in the large.’ 

Systems Engineering ‘in the large’ Stages

Alexander and Maiden identify systems engineering ‘in the large’ stages:

  • Explore Concept
  • Proof of Concept
  • Full Development
  • Production
  • Installation
  • In-Service Support
  • Disposal

Systems Engineering ‘in the large’ Process Models

Alexander and Maiden provide examples of commonly encountered ‘in the large’ process models:

  • Evolutionary model
  • Incremental model
  • US DoD model
  • UK Ministry of Defense CADMID model
  • RUP (Rational Unified Process) – (RUP 2003)
  • ‘Agile Methods’ (e.g. Extreme Programming (XP)

Evolutionary Model, Incremental Model, and High-Risk Model

Alexander and Maiden write that you can group the ‘in the large’ process models into Evolutionary, Incremental, and High-Risk:

It seems, however, that all of these can be built from a small number (three) of basic process models.  Furthermore, variants and hybrids not found in the above list but which are encountered in practical situations can be constructed by composition of the three basic models.  In the above list, the evolutionary and incremental models are deemed to be in the basic set.  To this, we add another, which we have here called the ‘High-Risk’ model.

Key Take Aways

Here’s my key take aways:

  • Think of software engineering process at two levels: macro (‘in the large’) and micro (‘in the small’.)
  • Systems engineering ‘in the large’ and systems engineering ‘in the small’ are complimentary.
  • Based on a particular set of project circumstances, one model will be more relevant and therefore more appropriate.

My Related Posts

  • Systems Engineering ‘in the small’
  • Waterfall, In the Large, and In the Small
  • A Process for Generating a Software Process
  • Four Reasons Why Defining Effective Software Process is Tough
Category: ProcessTag: Process

About JD

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Reader Interactions

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  1. Macro and Micro Software Process says:
    Jun 22, 2008 at 11:09 pm

    […] Software Engineering ‘in the large’ […]

  2. Evolutionary, Incremental, and High-Risk says:
    Jun 23, 2008 at 12:04 am

    […] Incremental, and High-Risk are software process models for systems engineering ‘in the large’.  In the Evolutionary model, the complete cycle of activities is repeated for each […]

  3. Choosing Between Evolutionary, Incremental, and High-Risk Software Process Models says:
    Jun 23, 2008 at 12:34 am

    […] process model?  Evolutionary, Incremental, and High-Risk are software process models for systems engineering ‘in the large’. In the Evolutionary model, the complete cycle of activities is repeated for each version.  In […]

  4. Combining Software Process Models (Evolutionary, Incremental, and High-Risk) says:
    Jun 23, 2008 at 1:32 am

    […] process models.  Evolutionary, Incremental, and High-Risk are software process models for systems engineering ‘in the large’. In the Evolutionary model, the complete cycle of activities is repeated for each version.  In […]

  5. Software-Engineering » Vice President of Software Engineering / Gifts.com / West ... says:
    Jul 18, 2008 at 1:24 am

    […] Systems Engineering ‘in the large’In software engineering, you can think of two levels: micro-level and macro-level. On the micro-level, this is systems engineering ‘in the small.’ On the macro-level, there’s systems engineering ‘in the large. … […]

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