Presentation Transcript
London Underground Limited Systems Engineering Forum: London Underground Limited Systems Engineering Forum A Vehicle For Shared Learning In A Distributed Organisation
ANDREW BOURNE Systems Integration Engineer, Chief Engineer’s Group, LUL
Systems Engineering Forum: Systems Engineering Forum Organisational Context
Systems Engineering Cabability
Aims Of The SE Forum
Progress To Date
The Future Contents
Organisational Context : Organisational Context 1994 Refocus of Engineering - greater Project Team focus - move from discipline based organisation to systems based (trains, stations, infrastructure) - flatter organisational structure History
Organisational Context: Organisational Context Unintentional downside was: - islands of systems engineering capability mostly within major project teams - impact on morale (isolation) and ability to learn from each other - difficulty in retaining lessons learned on one project within organisation Issues
Systems Engineering Capability: Systems Engineering Capability C D E Organisation Project A Project B External
Environment Islands
Systems Engineering Capability: Systems Engineering Capability Expertise resides with individuals - if they leave the knowledge goes with them.
Contact with the external environment is also mainly at the individual level.
The ‘repeatability’ of good practice is low. Impact
Aims Of The SE Forum: Aims Of The SE Forum Network existing Systems Engineers
Facilitate sharing of best practice with LUL
A Forum to discuss real issues
An ‘expert body’ to validate approaches Aims
Aims Of The SE Forum : Aims Of The SE Forum C D E Organisation Project A Project B External
Environment SE Forum Context
Slide9: Aims Of The SE Forum C D E Organisation Project A Project B External
Environment SE Forum Results 1
Slide10: Aims Of The SE Forum C D E Organisation Project A Project B External
Environment SE Forum Results 2
Progress To Date: Progress To Date Aims being met
Additionally ..... a ‘place’ to bring other interested parties a ‘place’ to invite external expertise
As nodes added to network, growth accelerates and with it a positive climate for SE. Other
Benefits
Progress To Date: Progress To Date C D E Organisation Project A Project B External
Environment SE Forum Org X Org Y F G Other
Benefits
Progress To Date: Progress To Date SE Forum part of a multi-thread strategy within Chief Engineers Group. - Standards, Practice Guides - STEFFIE (EPSRC) Other
Strategic
Threads
Progress To Date: Progress To Date C D E Organisation Project A Project B External
Environment SE Forum Org X Org Y F G CEG Stds. STEFFIE Academia Industry EPSRC Other
Threads
Progress To Date: Progress To Date A basis for shared learning
A key to improving organisational SE capability
A gateway to the external environment
Low cost
Organic, flexible
‘Loosely coupled organic network’ from “Creative Organization Theory” Gareth Morgan, Sage Publications, California 1989
‘Networked Organization’ from “Creating Tomorrow’s Organization David Birchall/Laurence Lyons, FT Pitman, London 1995
Reproducable Summary
The Future: The Future LUL reorganising into four companies in readiness for a Public Private Partnership arrangement (New London Underground Operating company and three Infrastructure companies - InfraCos)
SE Forum has the flexibility to adapt and prvide a non-contractual forum to continue to improve capability in partnership.
Possibility of other links (e.g. INCOSE) PPP
Slide17: SE Forum in the PPP Project A Project B External
Environment SE Forum INCOSE Org Y Operating Co. Stds. STEFFIE Academia Industry EPSRC G Project A D C E F InfraCo 1 InfraCo 2 InfraCo 3
Summary: Summary The SE Forum model provides a number of benefits to a distributed organisation. It is: A basis for shared learning
A key to improving organisational SE capability
A gateway to the external environment
Simple, low cost
Organic, flexible (hence adaptable to future org.)
Reproducable