Short answer

Prioritize the development of human capabilities and adaptive strategies alongside technological implementation when designing and deploying digital engineering solutions.

Field: Innovation & Design
Source: INCOSE International Symposium (2022)
Method: Model-based reference pattern application and case study analysis.
Evidence: Strong effect

Successfully implementing digital engineering relies on building a robust innovation ecosystem that prioritizes human resource development and evolutionary strategies over mere technological adoption. This innovation & design research insight is drawn from a 2022 study published in INCOSE International Symposium. Using Model-based reference pattern application and case study analysis., researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Prioritize the development of human capabilities and adaptive strategies alongside technological implementation when designing and deploying digital engineering solutions.

Study

Innovation & DesignHigh ImpactStrong effect

Digital Engineering Ecosystems Require More Than Technology: A Focus on Human and Evolutionary Capabilities

INCOSE International Symposium · 2022

Key Findings

01Digital Engineering benefits are not solely derived from technology implementation but from the surrounding innovation ecosystem.
02Ecosystems are complex, socio-technical systems subject to evolving risks and challenges.
03Effective digital engineering requires preparing human and technical resources to consume and exploit digital information, not just create it.
04Evolutionary steering through feedback and group learning is crucial for capability enhancement over incremental releases.

Application

Design takeaway

Prioritize the development of human capabilities and adaptive strategies alongside technological implementation when designing and deploying digital engineering solutions.

How to apply

When designing a new digital workflow or system, explicitly map out the training needs, feedback mechanisms, and iterative improvement processes required for its successful adoption and evolution.

Project actions

01When proposing a new digital tool or system, consider the user training and ongoing support needed.
02Think about how your design can adapt to future changes and incorporate user feedback.

Method & Evidence

AimHow can organizations effectively plan, implement, and evolve digital engineering ecosystems by considering socio-technical factors and evolutionary strategies?

MethodModel-based reference pattern application and case study analysis.

ProcedureA configurable model-based reference pattern was developed and applied to various commercial and defense digital engineering ecosystems through targeted case studies. This involved analyzing the planning, implementation, and improvement phases, with a focus on consistency management, human resource preparation, and evolutionary capability enhancements.

ContextDigital Engineering Ecosystems (Commercial and Defense)

Variables

IV["Implementation of digital technologies","Focus on human resource preparation","Evolutionary steering strategies"]

DV["Benefits of Digital Engineering","Ecosystem effectiveness","Capability enhancements"]

CV["Type of industry (commercial/defense)","Specific digital technologies employed","Organizational structure"]

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Provides a structured model for analyzing and planning digital engineering ecosystems.
+Emphasizes the critical role of human factors and evolutionary processes.

Limitations

The complexity of a full digital engineering ecosystem might be difficult to fully replicate or study within the scope of a typical design project.

Reliability & validity

The study's reliance on case studies and a model-based approach suggests moderate reliability. Validity is strengthened by its application across diverse ecosystems, but may be limited by the subjective nature of 'ecosystem effectiveness'.

Think critically

To what extent can a design project realistically address the 'ecosystem' aspect of digital engineering, or is this primarily an organizational-level concern?

Design Principles

"Digital engineering success is a function of technological adoption, human readiness, and evolutionary ecosystem management."

Design practice is increasingly influenced by digital tools and workflows. Understanding the broader ecosystem required for digital engineering allows for more effective planning and implementation, ensuring that human capabilities and adaptive strategies are central to realizing the full potential of these advancements.

What This Means for Your Design

To make digital tools work well, you need to think about how people will use them and how the whole system can get better over time, not just the tools themselves.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this research when discussing the importance of user training and iterative development in your design project's implementation strategy.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

The successful integration of digital engineering tools necessitates a comprehensive approach that extends beyond mere technological adoption. Research indicates that the development of a robust innovation ecosystem, characterized by the preparation of human and technical resources for effective digital information consumption and exploitation, alongside evolutionary steering through feedback and group learning, is paramount. This holistic perspective ensures that digital advancements are not only implemented but also sustained and enhanced over time, aligning with the principles of socio-technical system evolution.

Source

INCOSE International Symposium

Realizing the Promise of Digital Engineering: Planning, Implementing, and Evolving the Ecosystem

journal · 2022

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about digital engineering ecosystems require more than technology: a focus on human and evolutionary capabilities?: Prioritize the development of human capabilities and adaptive strategies alongside technological implementation when designing and deploying digital engineering solutions. Evidence: INCOSE International Symposium (2022).
Why does "Digital Engineering Ecosystems Require More Than Technology: A Focus on Human and Evolutionary Capabilities" matter for design?: Design practice is increasingly influenced by digital tools and workflows. Understanding the broader ecosystem required for digital engineering allows for more effective planning and implementation, ensuring that human capabilities and adaptive strategies are central to realizing the full potential of these advancements.
How can designers apply this research?: Prioritize the development of human capabilities and adaptive strategies alongside technological implementation when designing and deploying digital engineering solutions.
What were the main findings?: Digital Engineering benefits are not solely derived from technology implementation but from the surrounding innovation ecosystem.. Ecosystems are complex, socio-technical systems subject to evolving risks and challenges.. Effective digital engineering requires preparing human and technical resources to consume and exploit digital information, not just create it.. Evolutionary steering through feedback and group learning is crucial for capability enhancement over incremental releases.
What research method was used?: Model-based reference pattern application and case study analysis..
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2022 journal from INCOSE International Symposium.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When designing a new digital workflow or system, explicitly map out the training needs, feedback mechanisms, and iterative improvement processes required for its successful adoption and evolution.
What are the limitations?: The model's configurability may require significant adaptation for highly unique or nascent ecosystems. The study's focus on specific case studies might not capture all potential challenges across diverse industries.