Mission Thread Workshop
This is a collection of assets associated with the Mission Thread Workshop.
Abstract
A mission thread is a sequence of end-to-end activities and events that takes place to accomplish the execution of an SoS capability. The mission thread takes place in the context defined by a vignette, which is a short story about environment. We identify three basic types of mission threads: 1) operational, 2) development, and 3) sustainment.
The Mission Thread Workshop (MTW) is a facilitated process that brings together SoS stakeholders to augment existing mission threads with quality attribute considerations that will shape the SoS architecture and to identify SoS architectural challenges. The MTW has three phases:
In the Preparation phase, the SoS program manager develops an overview presentation on the SoS mission/business drivers, and the SoS architect develops an overview presentation on the SoS architecture plans. The facilitation team meets with the SoS program manager and architect to plan the MTW, provide feedback on the two presentations, reach agreement on mission threads and types, and identify stakeholders.
The Execution phase involves augmenting the mission threads with quality attribute considerations and identifying SoS architectural challenges based on stakeholder inputs and the dialogue between the stakeholders and the architects. During the augmentation, overarching quality attribute considerations—as well as step-specific quality attribute considerations for each quality attribute of the SoS—are elicited and documented for each mission thread. The architects can also describe how the planned architecture satisfies the quality attribute considerations in each step for each mission thread selected for the workshop.
In the third and final phase, Roll-Up and Follow-Up, two reports are produced from the activity in the execution phase, and answers to action items are assigned in that phase. One report includes the quality attribute considerations for each step of each mission thread selected for the MTW and overarching quality attribute considerations for each mission thread. The other report describes the SoS architectural challenges. At the end of the series of MTWs, an annotated summary briefing rolls up SoS architectural challenges and strengths, non-architectural issues (if any are uncovered), and recommendations.
The MTW is a prerequisite to the SEI SoS Architecture Evaluation, since its results are used in that evaluation.
Collection Contents
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Mission Thread Workshop
February 8, 2018 • Fact Sheet
A Mission Thread Workshop conducted by the SEI is an effective way of understanding stakeholder needs and reducing the risks associated with software architectures.
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Introduction to the Mission Thread Workshop
October 1, 2013 • Technical Report
By Michael J. Gagliardi, William G. Wood, Timothy Morrow
This report introduces the Mission Thread Workshop, a method for understanding architectural and engineering considerations for developing and sustaining systems of systems. It describes the three phases of the workshop and explains the steps of each.
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Introduction to the Mission Thread Workshop
March 12, 2015 • Podcast
By Michael J. Gagliardi
In this podcast, Mike Gagliardi introduces the Mission Thread Workshop, a method for understanding architectural and engineering considerations for developing and sustaining systems of systems.
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Mission Thread Workshop (MTW): Preparation and Execution
May 2, 2013 • Presentation
By Michael J. Gagliardi, Timothy Morrow, William G. Wood
This presentation describes the Mission Thread Workshop (MTW) and its benefits. The three phases for conducting an MTW are explained, as well as how the MTW fits into system-of-systems architecture development and analysis.
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Mission Thread Workshop: Preparation and Execution
May 1, 2013 • Presentation
By Timothy Morrow
A presentation from the ninth annual SATURN conference, held in Minneapolis, MN, April 29 - May 3, 2013.
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Mission Thread Workshops: Lessons Learned
May 8, 2012 • Presentation
By Michael J. Gagliardi, William G. Wood
A presentation from the Facilitated Architecture Techniques track at SATURN 2012, May 7-11, 2012, St Petersburg, FL.
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Mission Thread Workshops: Lessons Learned in End-to-End Capability and Quality Attribute Specification for SoS Architecture Development
May 13, 2011 • Presentation
By Michael J. Gagliardi, Timothy Morrow, William G. Wood
A presentation from SATURN 2011 that explains lessons learned from mission thread workshops (MTW) as an early architecture development step.
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