Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

Should we be using systems engineering on this project? Here is a simple test.

I think systems engineering is useful and brings many benefits. That is why I wrote a short book on the topic. The book is free here.

Should we be using systems engineering on this project? Here is

The Systems Engineering Test:

If two or three persons can keep the entire project in their heads, don’t use systems engineering. Otherwise, use it.

There it is. Pretty simple. Trouble is, must of us most of the time answer, “Yes, we have it all right up here,” when we really don’t. We are smart enough or good enough or something that satisfies our ego so we can skip all that stuff where we ask questions and record things and check things and all that stuff kind of stuff.

As I explain in the book I mentioned earlier, we don’t need many fancy, expensive, difficult-to-learn tools to use systems engineering and delight our customers. The techniques are more important than the tools. Pencil and paper and manila folders work well for most projects.

Use the test. Answer humbly. Proceed. Best wishes.