Rapid Idea Incubation Cell (RIIC) – A New System Analysis Tool for Space Projects
- Paper number
IAC-09.D3.4.9
- Author
Mr. Daniel Schubert, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany
- Year
2009
- Abstract
System analysis is the use of rigorous methods to help determine preferred plans and designs for complex, mostly large scale systems. Often, different space mission concepts or different system architectures are competing with each other and a qualified trade off decision has to be made. Time pressure, personal feelings, grouping, political bias and resource conflicts are often a source for non optimal decisions. Correct assessment and evaluation of a specific system alternative is one of many tasks of system engineers, project managers and decision makers. The paper presents a new method, which is called the Rapid Idea Incubation Cell (RIIC). It is a new and innovative tool to canalize and optimize not only the way ideas are worked out, but also how decisions are made. The RIIC method is based on the innovation funnel techniques of Wheelwright & Clark as well as the innovation Stage-Gate process of Cooper & Edgett. These product innovation methods are combined and adjusted to the requirements of space mission projects. The RIIC consists of two major elements: Idea generation & development on the one hand and evaluation & decision making on the other hand. Starting from a superior input task, engineers execute different RIIC work procedures, where several screening techniques identify so-called proto-ideas and develop them to preliminary concept ideas. The RIIC also consists of three different gates, through which the ideas/ concepts have to pass. Every gate is built up of a unique set of assessment tools that allows engineers to valuate a certain concept. Once a concept fulfils all criteria, it can pass through a gate and reaches the next work segment, where additional work will be performed. All other concepts that have not passed a gate successfully are not discarded but rather kept in the innovation funnel. Additional work or idea alterations will eventually pass a dismissed concept through a gate. The successful concepts, however, are developing from gate to gate so that an initial fuzzy front end proto-idea evolves into a solid concept, once its leaves the RIIC.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
(absent)