The impact of systems engineering on program performance: A case study of the Boeing company

Abstract

This study provides clear empirical evidence that Systems Engineering (SE), when implemented by Program Management (PM), drives improvements in program performance. During a three-year interval, SE processes were systematically integrated into The Boeing Company's Program Management Best Practices (PMBP) on the multi-purpose airlifter program. Given SE processes providing a foundation for high-quality PM, program managers heavily rely upon project team members to consistently implement SE processes throughout the project lifecycle to ensure successful program performance. The study's results indicate that a strong and positive correlation exists between the implementation of SE processes and program performance improvements. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media.