Research Strategy

SERC Strategic Research Areas

Since the SER-UARC’s founding in September 2008, more than 20 sponsored systems engineering (SE) research projects have been completed or are un- derway. Each project supports one of the SER-UARC research strategy areas.

Enterprises as Systems and Systems of Systems

The evolving needs of complex organizations and systems in which the human behavioral aspects are critical and emergent behavior is the norm are a significant challenge to SE. Such organizations must integrate and evolve multiple portfolios of systems with often conflicting sets of objectives, constraints, stakeholders, and resource demands.

Trusted Systems

Conceiving, developing, deploying, and sustaining systems that are safe, secure, dependable, and survivable continue to present difficult SE problems. These emergent properties make it essential consider the complete system—including the human element. Foundational principles are needed to undergird continuing research.

Systems Engineering and Management Transformation

Classical SE methods, processes and tools (MPTs) are too slow, sequential, and reductionist to meet increasing complexity, rapidly changing requirements, radical technology growth, and deployment into evolving legacy environments. New MPTs must be developed. Deciding how and when to apply them is as important as the MPTs themselves.

Human Capital Development

The retirement of the baby boomer generation, the reduced numbers of US citizens entering the technical workforce, and the systems challenges facing our technical staff, are critical issues. Research will determine the knowledge and skills required for our future workforce and create more efficient and effective means to educate practitioners throughout their careers.