Guidance for General Managers

This use case concerns users who want to understand the scope of SE relative to their roles in projects and programs that involve systems engineering of products, services, enterprises, or systems of systems. Managers, other kinds of engineers, and all others who are involved in or are affected by a project or program that involves systems engineering will use the SEBoK to understand how their roles mesh with the roles of systems engineers. The SEBoK will also help them to better understand the relationships between systems engineering and other project or program activities.

Part 1 of the SEBoK provides an orientation and overview of systems engineering for all other stakeholders who have an interest in systems engineering. The extensive lists of references in Part 1 and throughout the SEBoK provide a basis for further readings on selected topics in systems engineering.

Part 7 of the SEBoK provides implementation examples that illustrate the application of systems engineering practices, principles, and concepts in real settings. Some of these may be of direct applicability for some other stakeholders; all of the examples provide concrete examples of the role of systems engineering in various kinds of projects and programs.

Links to glossary terms are embedded throughout the SEBoK; in version 1.0 of the SEBoK, each term will include a discussion of its relevance to systems engineering, which will provide further insights into systems engineering for managers.

The Use of Topics

Managers will find the following topics in the SEBoK to be relevant to their interests:

In Part 3 of the SEBoK, managers will find the topics of Life Cycle Models, Systems Engineering Management, Product and Service Life Management, and Systems Engineering Standards to be of interest.
A cursory reading of the Part 4 knowledge areas (products, services, enterprises, and systems of systems) will provide managers with an overview of the distinctions among systems engineering activities for these different kinds of engineered systems. Managers involved in development or modification of one of these types of systems will benefit from detailed reading of the content, primary references, and glossary terms for that topic.
Managers will benefit from detailed reading of the knowledge areas in Part 5 of the SEBoK. In particular, managers whose project or program includes SE activities will benefit from the following Part 5 knowledge areas: Enabling Teams to Perform Systems Engineering and Enabling Individuals to Perform Systems Engineering. Higher-level managers will gain benefits from the Part 5 knowledge areas: Systems Engineering Organizational Strategy and Enabling Businesses and Enterprises to Perform Systems Engineering.
The Systems Engineering and Project Management knowledge area in Part 6 will be of interest to project and program managers as well as to higher level managers who manage portfolios of project that involve SE. Those whose projects include SE as well as software engineering (SwE) will benefit from the Systems Engineering and Software Engineering knowledge area.

Summary

The SEBoK provides insights and guidance concerning systems engineering and systems engineers for all stakeholders other than systems engineers. Managers, in particular will benefit from the knowledge areas highlighted in this case study. A separate case study includes the relevant parts of the SEBoK for other kinds of engineers.