Value Based Architecture Selection

Paper number

IAC-06-D3.1.03

Author

Mr. Bruce Cameron, Massachussets Institute of Technology (MIT), United States

Coauthor

Mr. Sandro Catanzaro, Massachussets Institute of Technology (MIT), United States

Coauthor

Prof. Edward Crawley, Massachussets Institute of Technology (MIT), United States

Year

2006

Abstract

In the design of complex systems serving a broad group of stakeholders, it can be difficult to prioritize objectives. Stakeholders are groups that have  'stake' or vested interest in the organization – consideration of their needs is a necessary step in defining the purpose of the system. In this paper, we present a novel approach to the consideration of stakeholder relationships, with a view to delineating the highest value objectives for the system architect. We introduce the concept of prioritizing stakeholders by the inputs they provide to the Value Creating Organization
(VOC), which we combine with the concept of maximal satisfaction of stakeholder needs. Inputs to the VOC are classified according to type (financial, approval, information), quantity, alternative sources, and criticality to the architecture using Kano methodology; analogously, the criticality of stakeholders’ needs is ranked through the same method. Objectives are sorted by a product of importance to the stakeholder, ease of satisfaction using the VOC’s capabilities, and importance of the stakeholder to the VOC. The objectives are linked to architectural decisions using proximate metrics. We utilize the metrics in an architectural model to select architectures which maximize value to the organization and its stakeholders. 


	We demonstrate this new method on a lunar robotic and human architecture for NASA’s return to the Moon. The stakeholder model combines internal NASA stakeholders with external organizations, building on an existing value flow model. We observe that the robotic objectives which best serve the campaign architecture must deliver benefits critical to the first human missions or benefits that fall outside the risk tolerance for human missions. We conclude that architectures which emphasize commonality of hardware across missions must not only arise from common performance requirements, but also common operational requirements, all while satisfying new and progressively complex objectives. Where objectives aim to demonstrate technologies for human landers, we note that the order of magnitude differences in risk tolerance and budget between the robotic and human programs will tend to reduce the value of risk retirement objectives.   


	The effort to numerically capture stakeholder relationships aims to bridge the gap between traditional stakeholder analysis and requirements definition. Consideration of stakeholder inputs helps structure the design space before critical decisions are made to narrow it. The results from this study were used to enable studies of the  exploration campaign decision map as well as of the human lunar architecture. 

Abstract document

IAC-06-D3.1.03.pdf

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IAC-06-D3.1.03.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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