Framework for selecting a system design approach

Thesis: S.M. in Engineering and Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, System Design and Management Program, 2020

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Chiverton, Kelly A.
Other Authors: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division.
Format: Thesis
Language:eng
Published: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2022
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/145225
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author Chiverton, Kelly A.
author2 Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division.
author_facet Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division.
Chiverton, Kelly A.
author_sort Chiverton, Kelly A.
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description Thesis: S.M. in Engineering and Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, System Design and Management Program, 2020
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spelling mit-1721.1/1452252022-09-01T03:40:58Z Framework for selecting a system design approach Chiverton, Kelly A. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division. System Design and Management Program. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division System Design and Management Program. Engineering Systems Division. System Design and Management Program. Thesis: S.M. in Engineering and Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, System Design and Management Program, 2020 Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. Includes bibliographical references (pages 93-98). Recent discussions within the Department of Defense highlight the growing need for US military systems to rapidly respond to new missions, threats, and operational environments that the warfighter can and cannot anticipate. In an effort to respond to the government-wide emphasis of fielding Department of Defense systems smarter and faster, this thesis examines the engineering fundamentals of system design options. The thesis analyzes two umbrella categories of design strategies: static vs. flexible. It also explores subcategories of the two design approaches: optimized, robust, real options, and adapt. Relevant literature is used to define the design strategies, understand the benefits and penalties of each approach, and explore historical examples of each design's use within the Department of Defense. Based on the literature review, the thesis proposes a decision framework for selecting an optimal design approach that characterizes system tradeoffs between dynamic market needs, the rate of technology change, and a system's future operating environment against the value of the proposed design, with the goal of choosing the most cost effective and responsive system design under a given set of objectives and uncertainties. A series of interviews with Air Force Field Grade Officers are used to inform the usefulness and understandability of the decision framework. The interviews also highlight framework limitations. Ultimately, the interview responses solidify a recommendation for the Air Force to implement this framework prior to a system's development. by Kelly A. Chiverton. S.M. in Engineering and Management S.M. in Engineering and Management Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, System Design and Management Program 2022-08-31T16:29:16Z 2022-08-31T16:29:16Z 2020 2020 Thesis https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/145225 1341991407 eng MIT theses may be protected by copyright. Please reuse MIT thesis content according to the MIT Libraries Permissions Policy, which is available through the URL provided. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 107, 1 unnumbered pages application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology
spellingShingle Engineering Systems Division.
System Design and Management Program.
Chiverton, Kelly A.
Framework for selecting a system design approach
title Framework for selecting a system design approach
title_full Framework for selecting a system design approach
title_fullStr Framework for selecting a system design approach
title_full_unstemmed Framework for selecting a system design approach
title_short Framework for selecting a system design approach
title_sort framework for selecting a system design approach
topic Engineering Systems Division.
System Design and Management Program.
url https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/145225
work_keys_str_mv AT chivertonkellya frameworkforselectingasystemdesignapproach