“Fifty Shades of Agile”: AN ANALYSIS OF DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES OF AGILE SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

Abstract

Although Agile is well‐defined, and relatively widely‐used within the software engineering field, applying Agile to Systems Engineering (SE) is still under debate. While some feel that Agile SE offers potential to improve customer satisfaction and reduce cost, risk and time to market, it is unclear how well Agile approaches apply to SE. This paper explores diverse rationales for applying Agile SE, various types of systems it can be applied to, and different Agile SE approaches, showing that there is no single definition of Agile. Views range from: a high tempo approach to systems delivery analogous to Agile software, radical tailoring of conventional SE against fixed requirements, using agile software techniques to develop SE documents and models, to using Agile as a sales mechanism with no real understanding of chance of success. These perspectives are analysed against the 12 Agile software principles, Snowdon's Cynefin Framework and Ring's Value Cycle, concluding with 14 observations about Agile SE approaches.

A Case for Model‐Based Systems Engineering in an Agile World and Principles for Growth

“…ASE does not refer to a specific approach as there is no single, commonly accepted definition of or process that can be authoritatively referred to as agile systems engineering. In fact, Kemp et al have identified four distinct ways that the term agile SE is used (Kemp, Akroyd-Wallis, et al 2016):…”

Defence requires Enterprise‐Level Innovation: Using a Systems Approach to secure superior Value from Ideas

“…Many authors remark that creative Systems Engineering is both an art and a science (Ryschkewitsch et al, 2009): whilst systems architecting (Maier and Rechtin, 2009) and Systems Engineering (Haskins, 2010) contribute to the understanding of complex situations through their ability to reduce complexity. Kemp et al (2016) meanwhile observe that the movement from Computer Aided Software Engineering (CASE) to applying agile techniques to Systems Engineering (Agile Systems Engineering) has demonstrated its potential to deliver value from ideas in an agile manner, particularly in complex, adaptive situations.…”