Maximizing Effectiveness of the Systems Engineering Workforce

As technology advances at an ever-increasing rate and systems continue to increase in complexity, organizations face an ongoing need to develop their systems engineering workforce. Efforts to develop individual competency and team capability are often thwarted in program execution before value is realized. Throughout industry we see recurring anti-patterns and dysfunctions in systems engineering and digital engineering execution. In this paper, we first survey existing literature on systems engineering workforce development to tally mechanisms to develop individual competency, along with team and organization capability. Current practices utilizing technology assistance and systems engineering augmentation are reviewed, including artificial intelligence assistants, tool aids, mixed mode coaching, augmented reality simulations, digital twin train-as-you-fight, and others. To understand barriers in translating this workforce capability to execution and delivery, typical anti-patterns and dysfunctions from literature and practice are then given. To provide actionable guidance to systems engineering practitioners, a multi-level integrated strategy is then provided to maximize effectiveness of the workforce in delivering client value.