Concept Templates

The following concept templates (Word format) are available for download and use. These templates are offered with the understanding that they are generic and should be tailored to address the needs of your specific project.

Strategic and Mission Definition

• System Concept

• Mission Concept

• Stakeholder Concept

• User Concept

Operational Context

• Concept of Operations (ConOps)

• Operational Concept (OpsCon)

Technical Foundation

• System Architecture Concept

• Interface Concept

• Integration Concept

• Security Concept

Lifecycle Phases

• Acquisition Concept

• Development Concept

• Deployment Concept

• Sustainment Concept

• Disposal Concept:

Programmatic and Risk Management

• Cost and Schedule Concept

• Risk Management Concept

Validation and Support

• Test and Evaluation Concept

• Training Concept

Authoritative Information Sources:

The following authoritative systems engineering information sources provide a solid foundation for any systems engineering project. (This list is not exhaustive.)

• Guide to the Systems Engineering Body of Knowledge (SEBoK)

• NASA Systems Engineering Handbook

• MITRE Systems Engineering Guide

• Department of Defense Systems Engineering Guidebook

• Systems Engineering Standards

• International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE)

• Practical Software & Systems Measurement

• MIT Systems Engineering Advancement Research Initiative

• Systems Engineering Research Center

• International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

• Defense Acquisition University

• The DoDAF Architecture Framework Version 2.02

• Military Standard 498, SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT AND DOCUMENTATION (Note: This Standard has been retired, but it includes many templates systems engineers continue to find useful)

Illustration courtesy United States Defense Acquisition University