An Ilities-Driven Methodology for the Analysis of Gaps of Stakeholders Needs in Space Systems Conceptual Design

The new generation of space-based services includes large-scale, integrated, and distributed informational systems for which traditional system engineering approaches show some limits in delivering the “big picture.” Missing the view of the full range of design options, or prematurely translating the perceived stakeholders needs into design requirements, is often a consequence of insufficient regard to the end-users priorities. Objective of the present research is to bring to light the gaps extant between what system architects prioritize, and the preferences of potential system users. To this purpose, the proposed method aims at incorporating lifecycle properties (–ilities) in the concept design phase, by submitting attributes of these properties for the evaluation of two stakeholders representative groups. The case study refers to the integration of environmental measurements, coming from a global-navigation-satellite-systems-based remote sensing satellite constellation, as complementary data to the traditional weather-forecasting service, resulting in a new system of systems. The method runs through an interview-based quality function deployment process and collaborative sessions of teams of stakeholders. The strength of the formulation relies on the ability to treat a quantitative measure of the gaps extant between system desired capabilities as perceived by architects, and real end-user needs. The method can be potentially tested in a concurrent design environment as a complementary tool for eliciting requirements and suggesting the areas where investments and resources should be preferably allocated. Results can be used by researchers as pieces of knowledge to be further investigated, and by practitioners in development projects, taking into account that they are preliminary findings.