In 1913-1914, Theodore Roosevelt set off into the unknown and explored the River of Doubt in the Amazon Basin. Although he was successful in charting the river, the expedition was hindered by planning errors, terrain, and the specter of attacks by the indigenous population. Roosevelt’s health was permanently compromised by the strain of the adventure. Organizations embarking on digital transformations also step off into the unknown and can suffer avoidable missteps as they adapt their tools, processes, and culture. This presentation will highlight best practices, showcase available resources, and demonstrate the potential of successful digital engineering efforts.

Speaker Biography

Michael J. Vinarcik, P.E., ESEP-Acq is the Digital Architecture and Requirements Engineering (DARE) Director in SAIC’s Engineering Innovation Factory, an adjunct professor at the University of Detroit Mercy and CIDESI (Mexico). He has over thirty years of automotive and defense engineering experience and presents regularly at national and regional conferences. Michael has contributed to several books, most notably Taguchi’s Quality Engineering Handbook and the MBSE chapter for the third edition of Systems Engineering: Principles and Practice. He is a Fellow of the Engineering Society of Detroit, the President and Founder of Sigma Theta Mu, the systems honor society, and the current Treasurer of INCOSE.