Systems Engineering Flexibility for Complex Adaptive Systems: Broadening the Concept of System Engineering

System Engineering has been integral to some of mankind's greatest achievements in the 20th Century from launching astronauts into space to building some of the most intricately designed and built systems ever devised. However large-scale systems acquisition has often struggled conceptually with being responsive to change. Often this stems from engineering following a defined process focused on solving the challenges presented to them and devising an end-product(s) that meets specifications. This paper draws parallels from the challenges faced by businesses to stay relevant in a forever-changing dynamic business environment to glean lessons for defence acquisition. We suggest exploring circular systems engineering ecosystems to address the needs of stakeholders seeking to create future-proof complex adaptive systems and products that must operate in uncertain environments. The main goals here are to address the inherent uncertainty and improve stakeholder value.