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

Illustration courtesy United States Defense Acquisition University

Project Planning & Oversight

• Software Development Plan (SDP). Data Item Description (DID) Number DI-IPSC-81427B. The Software Blueprint provides a short video about this DID.

• Software Test Plan (STP). Data Item Description (DID) Number DI-IPSC-81438. The Blueprint for Trust provides a short video about this DID.

• Software Installation Plan (SIP). Data Item Description (DID) Number DI-IPSC-81428. Flawless Project Launches provides a short video about this DID.

• Software Transition Plan (STrP). Data Item Description (DID) Number DI-IPSC-81429. Inside the Blueprint provides a short video about this DID.

Requirements Analysis

• Operational Concept Description (OCD), Data Item Description (DID) Number DI-IPSC-81430. Blueprint for Big Projects provides a short video about this DID.

• System/Subsystem Specification (SSS) Data Item Description (DID) Number DI-IPSC-81431. Deconstructing the SSS provides a short video about this DID.

• Interface Requirements Specification (IRS) Data Item Description (DID) Number DI-IPSC-81434. Demystifying the IRS provides a short video about this DID.

• Software Requirements Specification (SRS) Data Item Description (DID) Number DI-IPSC-81433. The Blueprint for Code provides a short video about this DID.

System and Software Design

• System/Subsystem Design Description (SSDD) Data Item Description (DID) Number DI-IPSC-81432. The Ultimate Blueprint provides a short video about this DID.

• Software Design Description (SDD) (DID) Number DI-IPSC-81435. Designing Architecture provides a short video about this DID.

• Interface Design Description (IDD) Data Item Description (DID) Number DI-IPSC-81436. Machine Protocol: The IDD provides a short video about this DID.

• Database Design Description (DBDD) Data Item Description (DID) Number DI-IPSC-81437. Decoding the DBDD provides a short video about this DID.

Test Preparation

• Software Test Description (STD) Data Item Description (DID) Number DI-IPSC-81439. Test Blueprint provides a short video about this DID.

Qualification Testing

• Software Test Report (STR) Data Item Description (DID) Number DI-IPSC-81440. The Overall Assessment provides a short video about this DID.

Military Standard 498: Software Development and Documentation

Software is a major component of nearly all non-trivial engineered systems. The US Department of Defense invested significantly in the development of Military Standard 498. The Data Item Descriptions (DIDs) included in this standard provide valuable templates for addressing the development, testing, deployment, and maintenance of software.

• The PDF version of this standard is available for download: Military Standard 498, Software Development and Documentation. Taming Complexity provides a short video about this standard.

• This standard is not intended to specify or discourage the use of any particular software development method. The developer is responsible for selecting software development methods that support the achievement of contract requirements.

• This standard implements the development and documentation processes of lSO/lEC DIS 12207. It interprets all applicable clauses in MIL-CI-9858A (Quality Program Requirements) and ISO 9001 (Quality Systems) for software.This standard includes all activities pertaining to software development. It invokes no other standards. h can be applied on its own or supplemented with other standards, such as those identified in Section 6.

• Data Item Descriptions (DIDs) applicable to this standard are listed in Section 6. These DIDs describe the information required by this standard.

• This standard and its Data Item Descriptions (DIDs) are meant to be tailored by the acquirer to ensure that only necessary and cost-effective requirements are imposed on software development efforts.

This table provides an overview of the DIDs and their purpose

Following are links to the PDF versions of the DIDs and to short videos describing them

Preparing for Software Use & Transition

• Software Product Specification (SPS) Data Item Description (DID) Number DI-IPSC-81441. The Ultimate Owner's Manual provides a short video about this DID.

• Software Version Description (SVD) (DID) Number DI-IPSC-81442. Software Version Description provides a short video about this DID.

• Software User Manual (SUM) Data Item Description (DID) Number DI-IPSC-81443. The Perfect User Manual provides a short video about this DID.

• Software Input/Output Manual (SIOM) Data Item Description (DID) Number DI-IPSC-81445. Speaking to the Machine provides a short video about this DID.

• Software Center Operator Manual (SCOM) Data Item Description (DID) Number DI-IPSC-81444. Anatomy of a Lifeline provides a short video about this DID.

• Computer Operation Manual (COM) (DID) Number DI-IPSC-81446. A Guide for Scenarios provides a short video about this DID.

• Computer Programming Manual (CPM) Data Item Description (DID) Number DI-IPSC-81447. Decoding the CPM provides a short video about this DID.

• Firmware Support Manual (FSM) Data Item Description (DID) Number DI-IPSC-81448. Blueprint for a Microchip provides a short video about this DID.