The Basics of Systems Engineering Allocation
A major step in the systems engineering process is Requirements Allocation.
Allocation enhances the traceability and accountability essential for the rigorous analysis, validation, and verification processes
Why perform requirements allocation? In the ever-evolving world of technology, being able to quickly adapt to shifting conditions, stakeholder needs, and new challenges is crucial. Requirement allocation goes beyond just a procedural step; it's a strategic necessity that enables teams to develop solutions that are strong, scalable, and in tune with a commitment to ongoing improvement.
Requirement allocation is a pivotal process that ensures integration of technical constraints, stakeholder expectations, and functional necessities. Typically, requirements allocation represents a mechanism for mapping source requirements to other derived requirements. It can also mean mapping requirements to other elements that satisfy that requirement. INCOSE describes allocation as a process that involves deriving and decomposing requirements to assign them to system components.
Example of requirement to requirement allocation.
Function allocation determines which functions should be performed by humans and which by machines. To ensure all the top level requirements will be met, they are assigned to one or more functions to implement. Allocation can also be viewed as a process of "flowing down" requirements from one level of the architecture to lower levels.
Example of requirement to function allocation.
Example of System Architecture and Requirements allocation in Jama Connect
Industry Reference: In the ISO 26262 standard, requirements allocation is the process of assigning safety requirements to architectural elements.
Industry Reference: NASA describes the process of allocation as breaking down and assigning requirements to all levels of the work breakdown structure (WBS).
Industry Reference: The IEC 61508 standard requires that software safety requirements are derived from the safety requirements and allocated to the software implementation.
From SEBoK (systems engineering body of knowledge: "Allocation is the process by which the requirements at one level of the physical architecture are assigned to those entities at the next lower level of the architecture that have a role in the implementation of the allocated requirement. This involves an analysis where the project team determines what “role”, if any, each subsystem or system element at the next level of the architecture has in the implementation of the requirement being allocated. Requirements generated at the lower level are referred to as child requirements of an allocated parent requirement."
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