Abstract: Many defense systems are very complex and include hardware designed specifically for that system. As Government and Defense organizations embrace Agile development, one of the stickiest issues is how to integrate Systems Engineering and Hardware organizations into an Agile program. Since Agile assumes a low-cost-of-change, these disciplines struggle to be Agile in the face of significant analysis and long-lead times. This paper describes the experience launching an agile development project and adapting Systems Engineering and Hardware Design teams to this environment. The changes were widespread, from how work is planned, to how it is managed, measured and implemented. The importance of model-based engineering and design tools will be discussed. The paper will also suggest approaches for using Systems Engineering to deploy complex hardware to an architectural runway.
Lessons Learned from Your Experience: - Experiences, twists and turns in successfully establishing Agile Systems and Hardware Engineering teams.
- The critical role model-based engineering plays in non-software agility.
- The shift in mindset and detailed planning needed to develop Architecture in long-lead, future feature deployment.
- Insights in prioritizing custom hardware development for architectural runways, while minimizing the impact of later changes.
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