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Department of Systems Engineering

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://hdl.handle.net/10217/199888

This digital collection includes faculty/student publications, theses, dissertations, and datasets from the Department of Systems Engineering.

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Browsing Department of Systems Engineering by Subject "Agile"

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    Merging systems engineering methodologies with the Agile Scrum framework for Department of Defense software projects
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Rosson, Dallas, author; Bradley, Thomas, advisor; Batchelor, Ann, advisor; Coleman, David, committee member; Eftekhari Shahroudi, Kamran, committee member; Wise, Dan, committee member
    Only large-scale Department of Defense (DoD) software projects executed under the direction of the DoD Instruction 5000.2, Operation of the Adaptive Acquisition Framework, are required to follow rigorous systems engineering methods. Many software projects lack the benefits of established systems engineering methodologies and good engineering rigor and fail to meet customer needs and expectations. Software developers trained in the use of the various Agile frameworks are frequently strongly opposed to any development methodology that could be viewed as infringing on the principles of the Agile Manifesto. Agile projects, by their nature, embrace the concept of change, but uncontrolled change leads to project failures whereas controlled change can lead to sustained and innovative forward progress. In order to improve the results of these vital software projects, Department of Defense (DoD) software projects require a methodology to implement systems engineering rigor while still employing Agile software practices. The Agile Scrum framework alone is not rigorous enough to fully document customer needs as User Stories are written tracking only who, what, and why at a non-atomic level and commonly never looked at again after development needs are met. Systems engineering methods alone are not flexible enough to take advantage of the inherent nature to change capability required in software projects, which require flexibility in schedule and requirements. A new methodology, the Systems Engineering Focused Agile Development method, takes a rigor-flexibility-rigor approach to development and makes use of the strengths of the Agile Scrum framework with the best practices of systems engineering methodologies resulting in a common language that better allows cross-functional teams to communicate project needs while also allowing software developers to maintain flexibility in the execution of software projects. This research has determined that the thoughtful blending of Agile systems engineering and modern systems engineering methods has the potential to provide DoD software projects with benefits to cost, schedule, and performance.
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    The application of Agile to large-scale, safety-critical, cyber-physical systems
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) Yeman, Robin, author; Malaiya, Yashwant, advisor; Adams, Jim, committee member; Simske, Steve, committee member; Herber, Daniel, committee member; Arneson, Erin, committee member
    The increasing complexity of large-scale, safety-critical cyber-physical (LS/SC/CP) systems, characterized by interconnected physical and computational components that must meet stringent safety and regulatory requirements, presents significant challenges to traditional development approaches. Traditional development approaches, such as the waterfall methodology, often struggle to meet adaptability, speed, and continuous assurance demands. This dissertation explores the feasibility of applying and adapting Agile methodologies to LS/SC/CP systems, focusing on challenges like regulatory compliance and rigorous verification, while intending to prove benefits such as improved risk management and faster development cycles. Through case studies and simulations, this research provides empirical validation of Agile's effectiveness in this domain, contributing a framework for adapting Agile practices to meet the unique demands of LS/SC/CP systems. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research comprises five key components. First, a systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to assess the current state of Agile adoption in LS/SC/CP environments. Second, a comparative analysis of the top 10 Agile scaling frameworks was performed to evaluate their suitability for LS/SC/CP system development. Third, a survey of 56 respondents provided both quantitative and qualitative insights into industry trends, adoption patterns, and Agile's impact on LS/SC/CPs. Fourth, 25 one-on-one interviews with industry practitioners further explored the challenges, benefits, and enablers of Agile adoption in these environments. Finally, lifecycle modeling (LML) using Innoslate was utilized to develop a fictional case study, modeling the development of a mid-size low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite using both NASA's Waterfall approach (Phase A-D) and an Agile approach with a series of Minimum Viable Products (MVPs). Findings reveal that Agile methodologies, when adapted for LS/SC/CP systems, enable accelerated development cycles, reducing development time by a factor of 2.5 compared to Waterfall while maintaining safety and regulatory compliance. A key contribution of this study is the introduction of a Continuous Assurance Plugin, which integrates continuous validation within Agile's iterative processes, effectively addressing compliance and safety requirements traditionally managed through phase-gated reviews in Waterfall. Additionally, this research provides: 1. Empirical validation of Agile Scaling Frameworks and their suitability for delivering LS/SC/CP systems. 2. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of Agile's current state and impact in LS/SC/CP environments. 3. Evaluation of key enabling technologies such as Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), Digital Twins, and Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) that facilitate Agile adoption for LS/SC/CP systems. This dissertation advances the understanding of Agile's role in LS/SC/CP system development, providing actionable insights and practical adaptations for organizations seeking to implement Agile in complex, safety-critical domains.