A framework and methodology for enhancing operational requirements development : United States Coast Guard cutter project case study

Within any major United States Coast Guard cutter acquisition project, developing the operational requirements in the early phases of acquisition is difficult as the complexity of the system is not easily understood until the detailed design is completed. This can lead to requirements that are too broad or analysis efforts strategically focused on sections that are not at high risk to future design efforts or within sections that are decoupled from the major design parameters. This is often experienced when analysis studies are conducted independently and not evaluated from a total systems perspective. In order to improve the requirements generation methodology within United States Coast Guard acquisition, this thesis introduces a process focused Operational Requirements Framework. This framework synthesizes program, sponsor, and technical authority requirements a generic framework that focuses on a high-level systems engineering viewpoint to ensure that all requirements processes and their interactions are understood simultaneously. Within this framework, stakeholder analysis, operations and missions, and the design effects of "ilities" and interfaces are added to enhance the requirements development process. These new processes provide a better understanding of how the operational requirements meet value for all stakeholders and how the interaction of these requirements over the life cycle affects the acquisition project. This thesis also establishes a methodology, adapted from Responsive Systems Comparison (RSC), and practical application of this methodology in a current Coast Guard acquisition project. This 5-process method provides a diverse group of stakeholders key insight into the overall interaction of value, design variables, and contextual life cycle changes and their impact to the overall project. This can improve the coordination of the operational requirements generation and provide prioritization into analysis work necessary to establish a total systems approach towards requirements generation.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2010

Author dc:creator

• Schofield, Douglas M. (Douglas MacLean)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Donna H. Rhodes.

• Engineering Systems Division.
• System Design and Management Program.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/59270

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/59270