The Official Logo for USD(R&E)

Systems Engineering and Architecture

Systems Engineering and Architecture

Human Systems Integration

Human Systems Integration (HSI) is the systems engineering process and program management effort that provides integrated and comprehensive analysis, design, and assessment of requirements, concepts, and resources for human factors engineering, manpower, personnel, training, safety and occupational health, force protection and survivability, and habitability (DoDI 5000.95, Glossary).

These HSI domains are interrelated and interdependent and must be among the primary drivers of effective, efficient, affordable, and safe system designs. HSI integrates and facilitates trade-offs among these domains and other systems engineering and design domains but does not replace individual domain activities, responsibilities, or reporting channels (source: DAU).

The goal of HSI is to ensure human performance is optimized to increase total system performance (TSP) and minimize total system ownership costs (TOC). Incorporating HSI early in system design promotes more successful and effective transition of capability to the warfighter.

Photo by Maj. Robert Fellingham.

A crew chief with B Co "Big Windy," 1-214th General Support Aviation Battalion relays vital position information back to the CH-47 Chinook pilot from his side window as paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade hook their pallet of equipment to the underside of the helicopter. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Robert Fellingham)
Photo by Maj. Robert Fellingham. A crew chief with B Co "Big Windy," 1-214th General Support Aviation Battalion relays vital position information back to the CH-47 Chinook pilot from his side window as paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade hook their pallet of equipment to the underside of the helicopter. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Robert Fellingham)

HSI in DoD Acquisition Policy

DoD Directive (DoDD) 5000.01, The Defense Acquisition System (DAS), states: “Human systems integration planning will begin in the early stages of the program life cycle. The goal will be to optimize total system performance and total ownership costs, while ensuring that the system is designed, operated, and maintained consistent with mission requirements.” (DoDD 5000.01, p. 8)

The corresponding instruction, DoD Instruction (DoDI) 5000.02, Operation of the Adaptive Acquisition Framework, states: “The AAF supports the DAS [Defense Acquisition System] with the objective of delivering effective, suitable, survivable, sustainable, and affordable solutions to the end user in a timely manner.” (DoDI 5000.02, p.4)

Learn more about HSI in the Defense Acquisition System and JCIDS.

DoDI 5000.95, Human Systems Integration in Defense Acquisition, establishes policy, assigns responsibilities, and prescribes procedures for:

  • Human systems integration (HSI) in the Defense Acquisition System.
  • HSI domains, integration, implementation, and reporting across the DoD acquisition enterprise for personnel responsible for the development, testing, production, training, operations, and sustainment of defense acquisition programs.

HSI in DoD Functional Policy and Guidance

The following slides discuss how HSI activity is incorporated into functional policy and guidance.

Engineering Guidance The OUSD(R&E) Engineering of Defense Systems Guidebook and Systems Engineering Guidebook replace the former Defense Acquisition Guidebook (DAG) Chapter 3 and include considerations relating to HSI.

Experiencing HSI in Defense Acquisition

Source: Joint HSI Working Group, U.S. Army HSI Directorate

book, blue, vector, digital, pc, laptop

Human Systems Integration (HSI) Guidebook

This guidebook addresses HSI in DoD acquisition. The HSI Guidebook replaces the former DAG Chapter 5, “Manpower Planning and Human Systems Integration.” HSI seeks to consider the human element in all phases of system acquisition and can provide significant benefits including improved use of manpower, reduced training costs, reduced maintenance time, and improved user acceptance. For each of seven DoD HSI domains, the guide provides best practices and explains how HSI can help minimize total ownership cost (TOC) and optimize total system performance (TSP).

HSI Body of Knowledge

The HSI Body of Knowledge (BoK) is published and curated online through multiple sources. See summary of BoK updates.

Strategic Direction

  • Continuously and cost-effectively improve HSI program development and execution to positively impact warfighter performance and safety across the HSI enterprise to achieve Joint Force advantages.
  • Prioritize and recommend HSI research and application to have multi-Service impact on joint interest acquisition programs.
  • Strengthen human performance research into DoD acquisition programs.
  • Provide HSI recommendations on matters related to all HSI domains for weapon system programs.

Joint HSI Steering Council and Working Group

The Joint HSI Steering Council (JHSISC) chartered the Joint HSI Working Group (JHSIWG) in 2012 as a cross-Service forum for defense and Federal agencies to develop recommendations for DoD HSI planning, policy, and guidance; to oversee and encourage effective and proactive HSI process management; and to support the DoD HSI initiatives.

The JHSIWG conducted an HSI needs analysis resulting in a Capabilities-Based Assessment (CBA) that addresses the following:

  • Institutionalize an HSI body of knowledge.
  • Standardize HSI best practices across the Services.
  • Develop career certification and career paths/billets for HSI workforce supported by a persistent training function.
  • Provide and maintain tools, databases, and processes to support HSI analyses early in acquisition.
  • Implement a professional, coordinated HSI outreach and marketing function.
CBA-Piegraph

The HSI community works to address the CBA and supports S&T capability development areas such as the following:

  • Human‐machine designs for mission effectiveness and optimal warfighter interactions
  • Inclusion of machine learning and artificial intelligence for advanced teaming
  • Sensory, cognitive, and physical workload impacts to Warfighter performance and measurement approaches to assess and improve team effectiveness and survivability for multi‐domain operations
  • Assessment, education, and training advancements, to include synthetic environments

Contact Us

For more information, contact osd.r-e.comm@mail.mil using the following subject line: Attn SE&A 

Office of the Under Secretary of Defense,
Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E))
3030 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-3030