Agile MBSE: Doing the Same Thing We Have Always Done, but in an Agile Way with Models

Abstract

Agile systems engineering is not new. Work has progressed on this for many years to the point that criteria has been established regarding best practice as well as a means of quantifying adherence. The future of systems engineering (FuSE) initiative is reexamining how agile systems engineering fits into the FuSE (Willette et al. 2021). As model-based systems engineering (MBSE) is also a FuSE theme, it is only proper to look at how agile systems engineering and MBSE complement and enable each other. This article examines some of the aspects of MBSE–specifically the Systems Modeling Language® (SysML) – and show at how an agile approach to MBSE can help with the concepts of stakeholder engagement, continual integration, and dynamic learning and evolution. For reasons of space, the article will only provide minimal definitions and explanations of the basics of MBSE, agile, and SysML and as these are well known concepts.