The Supra-System Model

This article presents an initial set of concepts resulting from research by the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD/RE) and the Systems Engineering Research Center (SERC) under an initiative called “systems engineering modernization” (SEMOD). This article discusses the “supra-system model,” which evolved as a different view of systems engineering lifecycle activities across the entire life of an engineered system. This view promotes systems engineering as a continuous process that is 1) iterative across the full life of a system and 2) managed through a digital transformation centered on data and models. This article also discusses the value of “shared and authoritatively managed data and models” in the lifecycle of future systems. These together present a modernized view of systems engineering where “seamless and efficient transfer of data and models” will support practices that are “more agile and responsive to changing stakeholder needs.”