Systems Engineering Competency Assessment Guide

Clifford Whitcomb, PhD, is an INCOSE Fellow and Chair of the INCOSE Competency Working Group (CWG). He is also affiliated with the Naval Postgraduate School and Cornell University. He previously published Effective Interpersonal and Team Communication Skills for Engineers (2013) with Wiley. Lori Zipes is an INCOSE ESEP and Co-Chair of the INCOSE Competency Working Group (CWG). She is also affiliated with the US Navy Naval Sea Systems Command. Ian Presland is a Chartered Engineer, Fellow of the Institution of Engineering & Technology (FIET), an INCOSE ESEP. He has been affiliated with the INCOSE Competency Working Group (CWG) since its inception.

• List of SECF Tables xiList of SECF Figures xiList of SECAG Tables xiiList of SECAG Figures xiiINCOSE Notices xiiiAcknowledgements xiiiIntroduction xivPurpose xivScope xivPart I: Systems Engineering Competency Framework 1SECF Introduction 3SECF Scope 3SECF Purpose 3SECF Context 3SECF Objective 4SECF Document Overview 4INCOSE SE Competency Framework Definition 5Competency Overview 5Framework Structure 6Competence Proficiency Levels 6Language Standardization Within the Framework 8Competency Area Table Format 10Using the Competency Framework 13Typical Usage Scenarios 13Tailoring the Framework 15The Relationship Between Roles, Job Descriptions, and Competencies 17SECF Acronyms and Abbreviations 19SECF Glossary 21SECF Bibliography 26SECF Annex A: Summary and Rationale for Changes in the SECF Second Edition 29Document Structural Changes 29Primary Technical Changes 29SECF Annex B: Alignment with Incose and Other Initiatives 31INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook Fourth Edition 31INCOSE Systems Engineering Professional (SEP) Certification Program 33INCOSE Vision 2035 Roles and Competencies 33INCOSE Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) Initiative 35Atlas Proficiency Model 35SECF Annex C: Defining Roles Using the Framework 36Defining Roles - Introduction 36Considerations When Defining Role Statements 37Role Statement Structure 37Assigning Competencies to a Role Statement 38Role Tailoring and Organization 39Activity Prioritization and Role Tailoring 40SECF Annex D: INCOSE Systems Engineering Competency Framework 45Competency area – Core: Systems Thinking 46Competency area – Core: Life Cycles 48Competency area – Core: Capability Engineering 50Competency area – Core: General Engineering 52Competency area – Core: Critical Thinking 54Competency area – Core: Systems Modeling and Analysis 56Competency area – Professional: Communications 58Competency area – Professional: Ethics and Professionalism 60Competency area – Professional: Technical Leadership 62Competency area – Professional: Negotiation 64Competency area – Professional: Team Dynamics 66Competency area – Professional: Facilitation 68Competency area – Professional: Emotional Intelligence 70Competency area – Professional: Coaching and Mentoring 72Competency area – Technical: Requirements Definition 74Competency area – Technical: System Architecting 76Competency area – Technical: Design for 78Competency area – Technical: Integration 80Competency area – Technical: Interfaces 82Competency area – Technical: Verification 84Competency area – Technical: Validation 86Competency area – Technical: Transition 88Competency area – Technical: Utilization and Support 90Competency area – Technical: Retirement 92Competency area – Systems Engineering Management: Planning 94Competency area – Systems Engineering Management: Monitoring and Control 96Competency area – Systems Engineering Management: Risk and Opportunity Management 98Competency area – Systems Engineering Management: Decision Management 100Competency area – Systems Engineering Management: Concurrent Engineering 102Competency area – Systems Engineering Management: Business and Enterprise Integration 104Competency area – Systems Engineering Management: Acquisition and Supply 106Competency area – Systems Engineering Management: Information Management 108Competency area – Systems Engineering Management: Configuration Management 110Competency area – Integrating Competencies: Project Management 112Competency area – Integrating Competencies: Finance 114Competency area – Integrating Competencies: Logistics 116Competency area – Integrating Competencies: Quality 118SECF Annex E: SECF Comment Form 120Part II SECAG - Systems Engineering Competency Assessment Guide 121SECAG Introduction 123SECAG Scope 123SECAG Purpose 123SECAG Context 123SECAG Objective 124Link to Competency-Based Certification Within the INCOSE SEP Program 124SECAG Document Overview 124Tailoring the Assessment Guide 125Terminology Tailoring 125“Lead Practitioner” vs “Lead Role” Assessment 126“Expert” Practitioner vs “Expert Role” 126General Guidance For Tailoring Assessment of Proficiency Levels – Accumulated Evidence 126Evidence Indicator Tailoring 127Assessment Approach Tailoring 128Atlas 1.1 Proficiency Assessment 128Using the Assessment Guide 130Assessing the Assessors 130Framework and Assessment Use Case Examples 131Explanation of Assessment Guide Tables 132Assessment Guide Language Usage 135Sub- Indicator Classifications (“K”, “A,” and “P”) 141Assessing Evidence Sub-Indicator Types (“K”, “A,” and “P”) 141SECAG Acronyms and Abbreviations 143SECAG Glossary 146SECAG Bibliography 150SECAG Annex A: Systems Engineering Competency Assessment Guide Tables 153Competency area – Core: Systems Thinking 154Competency area – Core: Life Cycles 167Competency area – Core: Capability Engineering 178Competency area – Core: General Engineering 188Competency area – Core: Critical Thinking 200Competency area – Core: Systems Modeling and Analysis 212Competency area – Professional: Communications 226Competency area – Professional: Ethics and Professionalism 238Competency area – Professional: Technical Leadership 253Competency area – Professional: Negotiation 268Competency area – Professional: Team Dynamics 280Competency area – Professional: Facilitation 292Competency area – Professional: Emotional Intelligence 303Competency area – Professional: Coaching and Mentoring 312Competency area – Technical: Requirements Definition 322Competency area – Technical: Systems Architecting 337Competency area – Technical: Design for… 352Competency area – Technical: Integration 366Competency area – Technical: Interfaces 380Competency area – Technical: Verification 391Competency area – Technical: Validation 406Competency area – Technical: Transition 420Competency area – Technical: Utilization and Support 430Competency area – Technical: Retirement 444Competency area – Management: Planning 454Competency area – Management: Monitoring and Control 469Competency area – Management: Risk and Opportunity Management 483Competency area – Management: Decision Management 496Competency area – Management: Concurrent Engineering 509Competency area – Management: Business and Enterprise Integration 520Competency area – Management: Acquisition and Supply 534Competency area – Management: Configuration Management 544Competency area – Management: Information Management 558Competency area – Integrating: Project Management 573Competency area – Integrating: Finance 586Competency area – Integrating: Logistics 598Competency area – Integrating: Quality 612SECAG Annex B: Framework Implementation Examples 627SECAG Annex B1 – Using the SECF/SECAG for Candidate Recruitment and Assessment 627SECAG Annex B2 – Using the SECF/SECAG for Career and Organizational Development 635SECAG Annex B3 – Organizational Role Definition 641SECAG Annex B4 – Using the SECF/SECAG for Educational Course Definition 646SECAG Annex B5 – Using the SECF/SECAG for “Round Trip” Competency Assessment 652SECAG Annex B6 –Tailoring a Job Description to Add Systems Engineering Competencies and Skills 665SECAG Annex B7 – Using the SECF/SECAG for Tailoring a Job Description to Add Model-Based Systems Engineering Competencies and Skills 669SECAG Annex C: SECAG Comment Form 676Index 677