Lean Systems Engineering: Evidence from Astrophysical Projects

This paper reports the preliminary findings of a research carried out at INAF (the Italian Institution of Astrophysics), aimed at checking whether Lean Management can be integrated with Systems Engineering. Our hypothesis concerns the possibility that a cultural barrier could threaten the integration of such two approaches. The empirical evidence shows that INAF project leaders consider the technical perfection of the product a key goal and this can prevent a more appropriate understanding of what is “value” in the eyes of the stakeholders of the project.