Systems Engineering Glossary

A proposed or potential requirement that has not been validated or approved.

An expression of a system, product, function, or process’ ability to achieve a specific objective under stated conditions.

A deficiency in the ability of an organization to meet mission and enterprise needs.

A high-level requirement that describes the capabilities necessary to satisfy a compelling need or capability gap.

A document that outlines processes and responsibility for change management procedures and baseline creation.  It outlines retention practices and describes Change Management tools and their use.

Commercially available items that do not require the procuring organization to perform modifications to meet requirements.

A unique element within a system of interest.

A possible approach to providing a required capability.

A document describing how a system operates during the life cycle phases to meet stakeholder expectations.  It describes the system characteristics from an operational point of view, stimulating the development of requirements and architecture as they relate to users of the system.  The CONOPS provides the basis for system validation.  Sometimes referred to as the Operational Concept (OPSCON).

A documented agreement by the designated authority that a proposed course of action is acceptable.

The systematic evaluation, coordination, and disposition of proposed changes once a configuration baseline is established.

Periodic reviews of the hardware, software, databases, and firmware configuration items and their associated documentation, to verify consistency between the implemented solution and the documentation.

The person or organization authorized to make final decisions on changes to controlled configuration items.

A configuration management decision forum within an organization whose purpose is to disposition and authorize proposed baseline changes.

The identification of individual configuration items that comprise systems/ segments.

A hardware or software item, (or a combination of both) with a defined function that is selected for 

A process for establishing and maintaining consistence of baselines, approving and controlling changes, and recording and reporting changes in status of a product under development.

A documented process for managing a system’s Configuration Items (CI) in a controlled way.

A process for reporting information regarding the status of the established baseline and the proposed/ approved changes to that baseline.

A limitation placed on a system design by law, policy, physics, or other existing systems within which the solution must work.