Abstract

This paper explores the implications of a capability- based conceptual approach on the development of the systems engineering (SE) discipline. It deals with the identification of some potential limits and gaps of traditional SE approaches and demonstrates the need for new and innovative developments which support the concept of capability based engineering, especially as applied in the military domain and networking environments. The innovative approaches include partnership for capability planning and service descriptions for capability representations. The paper also presents a very brief assessment of the state-of- the-art of cognate domains such as capability based planning alongside requirements engineering and management, and considers the extent to which they address capability based concepts. The related concepts of system of systems (SoS) and the endeavour to extend SE to SoS are necessarily addressed.