INCOSE Vision 2035

In 2007, the INCOSE the "INCOSE Systems Engineering Vision 2020". This year, INCOSE has already published the third revision, the INCOSE Vision 2035.

On our own behalf: It is not surprising that artificial intelligence (AI) is mentioned in the vision. This week Wednesday and Thursday I am organizing a Webinar on AI in product development (Register now). The GfSE is also organizing the 29.10. a systems.camp in Mannheimwhich I would also like to attend and discuss Vision 2035.

But now back to INCOSE Vision 2035:

Formats of the INCOSE Vision 2035

If you would like to read INCOSE Vision 2035 directly, you can choose between the following formats:

• Vision as PDF: 76 pages PDF
• Executive Summary (12 pages PDF)
• Interactive version designed as a website
• Video:

History

INCOSE is a non-profit organization with the aim of promoting science and education in the field of Systems Engineering in industry, research and teaching. The vision is not just a forecast for the future, but also a tool to actively shape the future. To this end, INCOSE actively seeks to promote positive trends and curb negative trends. From this point of view, a regular revision makes sense, especially in view of the fast pace of our world.

Already in the first version, Vision 2020INCOSE recognized important trends, such as the importance of standardization and the possibilities of MBSE. INCOSE introduced certifications at an early stage, particularly in the area of training, to ensure that systems engineers speak the same language.

The improved appearance of the Vision 2025 it becomes clear that decision-makers are an important target group for the vision. After all, decision-makers provide the resources that are essential for the desired transformation in systems engineering.

Vision 2035 is similar in appearance to Vision 2035. The actual INCOSE Vision 2035 is a 76 pages long, almost 100MB heavy PDF. With the important target group of decision-makers in mind, there is also a 12-page executive summary. New is the interactive, website version of the vision.

Structure

Compared to the previous version, a new part has been added:

Chapter 1 sets the global context for Systems Engineering is presented. It summarizes some of the key trends and influencing factors that are likely to drive change in systems engineering. These factors include:

• the social and ecological conditions,
• the technology,
• the nature of the systems,
• the expectations of the interest groups,
• the companies and the workforce.

Chapter 2 highlights the current state of systems engineering, including skills, practices, fundamentals and current challenges. It addresses the basic elements for all types of systems, whether small or large. It becomes clear that the Maturity level in the various industries and organizations.

Chapter 3 describes the future of systems engineering. It addresses the changing global context and current challenges. It addresses the digital transformation and the direction of a fully model-based systems engineering environment. The theoretical foundations play a role, as well as the requirements for the workforce, education and training.

Also exciting for readers of SE Trends: how could the daily Life of a systems engineer look like in the year 2035?

As for the future, your task is not to foresee it, but to enable it.

Antoine de Saint Exupéry, quoted in INCOSE Vision 2035

Chapter 4 (new) describes what is required to realize the vision. It identifies a number of challenges and the high-level roadmaps required to take systems engineering from the current to the future state. This will only succeed with appropriate international collaboration.

Chapter 4 in particular turns the INCOSE Vision 2035 into an explicit call to action to help realize the future described here.

6 megatrends

Global megatrends (Chapter 1) arise from global socio-economic changes in conjunction with technological advances. We are experiencing a worldwide increase in prosperity. As a result, stakeholder expectations are rising in relation to the issues identified by the United Nations. These include better healthcare, a cleaner living environment, social equality, education, etc. Greater prosperity also promotes the advancement of technological capabilities and the societal need to apply these technologies in a responsible, sustainable way and to move away from fossil fuel-based energy supply.

Challenges

Chapter 2 deals with the following three challenges in systems engineering, among others:

Tools and data integration pose a major challenge due to their enormous fragmentation. Tools are often not interoperable and tool boundaries cause enormous friction losses. Document-based work is still widespread.

Complexity (software), agility, scaling: While in software development Agility has helped to increase Complexity we have not yet really managed to get to grips with this in systems engineering. Compliance requirements pose an additional challenge here.

Effects of AI and autonomous systems pose completely new challenges for systems engineering. Traditional systems engineering can hardly deal with systems that adapt during operation. Many of the ethical and data protection challenges are new and have not really been solved yet.

It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.

Charles Darwin, quoted in INCOSE Vision 2035

The future

Chapter 3 also deals with the future, represented as a series of transformation statements. For example, regarding the impact of AI in systems engineering:

Overall, the vision sets out 7 theses that summarize the expected and desired developments:

• The future of systems engineering is model-based
• AI will transform methods and tools in the long term
• Data science is increasingly being used to deal with large amounts of data (especially for AI systems)
• Human-machine integration will become increasingly important in order to ensure the effective interaction of systems with people
• Theories in systems engineering will shift with a focus on stakeholder added value
• The demand for (and supply of) training in systems engineering will increase, particularly with regard to leadership skills
• It is not only large companies that will increasingly adopt systems engineering practices

Failure is an option here. If things are not failing, you are not innovating enough.

Elon Musk, quoted in INCOSE Vision 2035

A day in the life of a Systems Engineer

The final section is a description of a normal working day for Priya Rumani, a fictitious systems engineer from India. The "persona" is rounded off with a CV, hobbies and interests.

The path to the future

While the path to the future in chapter 3 tends to show tactics, chapter 4 is a strategic roadmap. INCOSE Vision 2035 thus clearly addresses decision-makers as a target group, including political decision-makers. For example, the direct link between systems engineering and "PESTEL factors" (PESTEL: Political, Economic, Social, Technical, Environmental, and Legal) is established. The chapter is rounded off with recommendations and a roadmap.

INCOSE Vision 2035 is an impressive and solid document that every systems engineer should at least have leafed through. I like the approach of getting decision-makers from business and politics on board. We have enormous challenges to overcome in this world in the coming decades. I see systems engineering as an important element in achieving this.

Image source: INCOSE Vision 2035