Engineering and Technical Services (E&TS) System Analysis competencies provide project and program synthesis, analysis and design optimization. Using a variety of feasibility and trade-off study methods in concert with software modeling, configuration/data management as well as people skills, we structure and optimize our supported systems and networks in the most cost-effective, future-proof design possible. As part of a lifecycle cost analysis and integral to our Integrated Sustainment process, our experts:
- Analyze the proposed project and produce a written description.
- Define and document possible types of systems.
- Conduct a cost-benefit analysis, comparing the costs of similar systems comprising available historical data.
- Produce estimates of the system specifics, costs, schedules, etc.
- Define the benefits of the system including both quantitative and qualitative measures, available data types and the methods for metrics collection.
- Produce forecasts and estimates of future lifecycle requirements.
- Identify data needs including policy requirements, procedures and implementation.
- Evaluate design alternatives.
- Accomplish a sensitivity analysis.
- Recognize and classify areas of risk and uncertainty.
- Present recommendations for the preferred approach and feasibility documentation to decision-makers for discussion and action.
A brief example of the analysis and process required to expand the description of a project into a comprehensive set of user-defined specifications follows:
Analysis needs of current system
- What is the scope of the proposed system in terms of (a) functions, (b) users, (c) dimensions, and (d) constraints?
- A detailed set of user-specified requirements for the new system.
- A summary description of the system.
- Estimates of the next stage of the process.
- An index to all related material.
Process
- Define the scope of the new system.
- Interview all users and maintainers.
- Determine: (a) their uses of the current system; (b) perceived deficiencies of the current system; (c) their requirements for the new system.
- Document: (a) current system description; and (b) current deficiencies.
- Analyze current system.
- Draw diagrams of current system (including data flow and entity-relationship diagrams)
- Summarize and critique new system requirements.
- Include: (a) prioritized user requirements; and (b) resolution of current system's deficiencies.
- Produce a list of benefits include both tangible and intangible benefits; quantitative and qualitative.
- Estimate the next lifecycle phase or stage.
- Produce detailed estimate of costs, schedules, resources, and the like, including a schedule for the production of major deliverables.
- Produce requirements definition document.