The CSIR’s Integrative Systems Group (ISG) is responsible for solving large national problems, conceptualising and driving complex, integrative programmes that mobilise problem solving, foresight, research, architecture and engineering capabilities for key clients. ISG works closely with government, industry and other research organisations with a focus on defence and security sectors.
The staffing comprises enterprise engineers, operational research experts, systems engineers, logistics engineers, foresight specialists and telecoms engineers who harness the multi-disciplinary capabilities across the CSIR in tackling large-scale challenges.
As an independent agency, and with strict security regulations, the CSIR is appropriately positioned to conduct work in domains where sensitive intelligence or competitive content is contained.
1. Whole-of-Government foresight and integration:
This deals with large national problems across jurisdictions and portfolios as well as to help government produce integrated service delivery. The main function is to research large national problems to balance the dominant structural principle of functional silos with horizontal linkages and coordination, to achieve shared goals and integrated societal responses to particular issues. The distinguishing characteristic is an emphasis on objectives shared across organisational boundaries, as opposed to working within organisations. An example of a Whole-of-Government project would be border-safeguarding or environmental asset protection.
2. Enterprise architecture and engineering:
This provides cross-disciplinary integrative competencies employed for research, strategy, planning, architecting and engineering of the enterprise in a holistic way. The enterprise includes inter- and intra-organisation alignment on strategic, tactical and operational levels. ISG applies its practices to multi-level, multi-dimensional business challenges and are structured to provide expertise at business, application and technology layers.
Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) is a specialist area within this domain. This entails integration, multi-disciplinary engineering and technical management throughout the product lifecycle. CSIR hosts an integrated PLM platform showcasing actual implementations from various industries. Main focus areas are industry, proof of concept and PLM knowledge transfer.
3. Systems engineering:
Systems engineering provides an interdisciplinary approach and the means to enable the realisation of successful systems. Systems Engineering considers both the business and the technical needs of customer/end user to ensure the end result is precisely what is required. Customer needs and the required functionality is determined early in the development cycle, documented, and the design process takes into consideration the complete problem: operations, cost and schedule, performance, training and support, test, manufacturing, as well as disposal.
4. Telecommunications engineering:
This provides significant value to clients in ISG’s core areas of expertise, namely; network design and integration, network acquisition and implementation, network assessment and optimisation.
5. Information security and privacy:
Security architecture provides services in information security, information privacy, forensic readiness and security operations centre design and implementation.
6. Logistics systems engineering:
This provides services in the development of logistics support analysis. There is also a focus on research and development of simulation models to perform lifecycle cost analysis, support concept analysis, distribution analysis, failure analysis and spare parts optimisation.
