architecture trade off based on value drivers during system concept exploration

Abstract

One the most difficult aspects of system concept process is to recognize, understand and manage the trade-offs in a way that maximizes the success of the product. This is particularly important for space projects. In this way, a major part of the system engineer's role is to provide information that the system manager can use to make the right decisions. This includes identification of alternative architectures and characterization of those elements in ways that will help managers first discover, among alternatives, a design that provides a better combination of the various effectiveness dimensions. Mission architecture consists of a broad system concept and becomes the most fundamental statement of how the mission will work and satisfy the stakeholders. The architecture development process starts with the stakeholder analysis which enables the identification of the value drivers, passing for the requirements analysis to arrive in the system concept exploration. Design environments, such as the architecture trade off process, are dependant on the successful collaboration of multiple teams and multiple stakeholders. Defining, capture and use, through stakeholder analysis, value drivers, as measures in a trade off process promote the required integration to improve management decisions. Thus, the proposal presented in this paper provides a means for innovating the spacecraft design process by identifying drivers for value through stakeholder analysis and use them in order to integrate the architecture trade off process during the system concept exploration.