In engineering and in life, level of risk often differs between solution alternatives, so we need to factor risk into evaluation of, and decision between, alternatives. So far, so good. Defining evaluation criteria, weighting the criteria (actually, weighting improvements in the criteria, each over a defined range) and producing a total score for each […]

In this live-recorded webinar and Q&A session, PPI Managing Director Robert Halligan demonstrates how to apply the Wedge Model™ to your engineering projects to reduce risk and increase success. The Wedge Model™, a substantial elaboration of NASA’s Vee Model of the 1960s, is a framework for the application of verification and validation within large projects to […]

  DESCRIPTION OF THE WEDGE MODELTM By Robert J. Halligan FIE Aust CPEng Project Performance International Pty Ltd P.O Box 2385 Ringwood North Vic 3134 Australia Ph: 61-3-9876-7345 email: rhalligan@ppi-int.com For a PDF version of this article, please click here Abstract The Vee Model, first defined by Rook in 1986, has served well as a […]

Robert Halligan, FIE Aust Managing Director, Project Performance International Email: rhalligan@ppi-int.com Introduction: Innumerable studies have concluded that requirements problems are the single biggest contributor to cost overruns, schedule slippages and loss of capability in systems and software projects. Cost impacts alone of 10%, 20%, 50%, 80% and more are regularly reported by practitioners and researchers. […]

by Robert J. Halligan, FIE Aust CPEng IntPE(Aus), Project Performance International Tel: +61 3 9876 7345              email: rhalligan@ppi-int.com 1.           INTRODUCTION TO WBS/PBS 1.1         What a WBS Is and Isn’t        Let’s get one thing straight. A “Work” Breakdown Structure (WBS) isn’t a breakdown of work. WBS is a really, really bad […]

What is a requirement? An excellent place to look for a definition is always a universally recognized dictionary. Too many times we redefine terms because we can, and then we end up adding to the plethora of definitions already in existence and thus contributing to further confusion. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a requirement as: “something […]

Assessing the Effectiveness of SE By René King, Senior EngineerProject Performance International Systems Engineering (SE) practitioners and researchers have claimed many benefits of applying SE including improved product definition and development and enhanced performance of businesses. It is no secret that applying a SE process to development can mean a slightly longer problem definition phase, […]

By Alwyn SmitPr Eng CSEP – Principal Consultant and Course PresenterProject Performance International Choosing the right MBSE tool is a challenge that many of us have to face at one point or another. With the work performed by the INCOSE SE Tools Database Working Group, that might soon be a bit easier. From the INCOSE […]

by Caitlyn Liu Project Performance International In October, I was given the opportunity to attend one of the monthly events run by the Project Management Institute’s Melbourne Chapter. The event, which was themed ‘Unlearn Agile’, offered a refreshing viewpoint on the widespread application of Agile in today’s organisations. Presented in an interesting yet insightful way, […]

Robert Halligan, FIE Aust Managing Director, Project Performance International Email: rhalligan@ppi-int.com View this post on LinkedIn A client asked me during the week why I do not advocate the use of Quality Function Deployment (QFD). I feel the answer is important, so here goes. The main reason is that QFD weights Measures of Effectiveness MOEs […]