ABSTRACT
Learning to integrate, to prepare the engineered objects for integration (systems engineering), and to manage integration (systems integration management) are steeped in practice without much theory to guide improvements. The Hubble Space Telescope was described in terms of its technical characteristics, its mission, and development and integration issues. Compounding the systems integration problems, the project was over budget and severely behind schedule, and subsystems were failing their acceptance tests. From a variety of case studies and reports on integration failures, a few guiding principles can be derived. Empirical sociology offers well-developed tools and methodologies to help explore the subjective nature of systems engineering, systems integration, and systems engineering integration management to uncover the key principles. Alignment of strategies of key stakeholders with the goals of the project and the delivery of the agreed product or service is paramount for success.
