Measuring Systems Engineering Success: Insights from Baseball

Abstract

Optimizing the efficiency of socio-technical systems and determining accurate measurements of performance is a critical issue in many systems engineering enterprises. In our analysis we explore some of the recurring themes of Michael Lewis’s study of baseball, depicted in the best selling book Moneyball, and we make the connection to corresponding systems engineering principles of interest. The paper will focus on the systems engineering roadmap inspired by Lewis’ study for developing and refining a meaningful set of metrics for organizational transformation. The following steps are highlighted to convey this transformation with the assistance of metrics: identify and understand value in the enterprise and your organization; consider an integrated system focus in your organization; use cost analysis methods to implement a strategy for executing the transformation; and manage risk throughout operations and improve the process continuously.