A Systems Engineering Entrepreneurship Approach To Complex, Multidisciplinary University Projects

This paper presents a systems engineering entrepreneurship approach to developing projects at a university that are complex, multi-disciplinary in nature, integration oriented, and that may span departments, colleges, and have long completion schedules. Fundamental systems engineering principles are used to manage cost, schedule, and performance aspects of projects as well as to manage and control project risk. Entrepreneurial principles are used as part of the cost-benefit analysis in project evaluation. As an illustrative example, we present a project to develop an adaptive optics and atmospheric turbulence compensation system for a 0.8 meter optical telescope. A system engineering approach is used to identify and document stakeholder requirements, establish a project baseline, and use a requirements driven methodology to manage and control the project throughout its system development life-cycle. This approach is most suitable for technically complex projects that require collaboration and integration of diverse activities and resources as is often the case for multi-disciplinary projects or activities in centers of excellence or multiuniversity research initiatives.