Bucketology and an Enterprise Approach to System of Systems Development

All too often, System of Systems (SoS) development efforts are undertaken without a proper enterprise understanding. The lack of an enterprise approach to System of Systems development has the potential to yield multiple, concurrent, stovepiped programs. The four simple questions posed in this paper form a framework that provides the necessary enterprise approach to any SoS development effort. The questions tie together Development, Systems Engineering, and Corporate Portfolio Management in a measurable and accountable fashion. In effect, these four questions constitute a litmus test for SoS development and the answers provide a definitive indication of risk for the development journey. In the enterprise approach espoused by this paper, all programs are analyzed taking into consideration future strategic objectives which results in improved capabilities, reduced duplicative efforts, and potentially significant cost savings.