An Empirical Case Study of Problem Structuring in the Use of Generic Architectures

An empirical case study is presented which details a problem structuring activity facilitated by the United Kingdom (UK) Ministry of Defence (MOD) Internal Technical Support ‐ Systems Engineering Team with the UK MOD Generic Vehicle Architecture (GVA) team. The body of literature reviewed identified an absence of specific guidance, or description of practical experience, in applying generic architectures to manage system change. The problem structuring activity allowed the GVA team to better understand the nature of the problem they faced, and to identify a means to effectively progress the issue. This case study is offered for consideration as the description of the problem situation may resonate with the reader, and to provoke thought on the methods used in selecting systems engineering methods to use in practice.