Addressing the time dimension and agility in the provision of capability

Systems Engineering is used to develop systems to provide capability. Due to its heritage of being used to deal with large, complex and often unprecedented systems, there is perhaps a tendency for what might be called `traditional´ approaches to involve long and costly development programmes. However, there are many challenges that would benefit from the rigour of Systems Engineering that require a more agile response, including service provision in areas such as utilities and urgent operational requirements in the area of defence procurement. In order to be more effective for these more rapidly changing environments, Systems Engineering perhaps needs to re-examine the way it views the time dimension. This paper discusses concepts for doing this and introduces the REA²CT approach being developed at Cranfield University to aid such developments.