ANALYSIS OF FACTORS AFFECTING MODEL-BASED SYSTEMS ENGINEERING IN SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Systems Engineering has mostly been implemented in large engineering enterprises. Many studies have revealed the benefits of Systems Engineering for large and complex organizations and projects. However, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) still lag in implementing traditional Systems Engineering approaches and processes. Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) is defined as the formalized application of modelling to support system requirements, design, analysis, verification, and validation activities from the conceptual design throughout development and other life cycle phases. MBSE provides a definite advantage over the more traditional Systems Engineering implementations. Despite its benefits, MBSE adoption by smaller enterprises has been slow or non-existent. The benefits of tools and technological advancement seem to favour larger corporations. However, SMEs are important drivers of economies worldwide and should benefit from implementing MBSE. Enterprises must perform a trade-off between the investment required for MBSE implementation to the possible gains and benefits. Implementing MBSE may not be justified in the SME context as it is not adequately tailored to the needs of the SME culture, resources, skills, and tools. This paper proposes an adoption framework for the uptake of MBSE in SMEs whose effectiveness shall be tested in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]