Definition and interpretation of high-level organizational engineering requirements such as projects, systems, missions, etc., and the objectives and approaches to their achievement. Typical associated tasks are analysis of mission, program goals and objectives, requirements analysis, organizational performance assessment, and special studies and analysis.

Concept studies, analysis, preliminary production, planning, requirements definition, traceability and evaluation of alternate technical approaches. And associated costs for creating or upgrading performance of a system or activity. Typical tasks include defense requirements analysis, cost/cost-performance trade-off analysis, feasibility analysis.

Translation of a system or project concept into a preliminary and detailed design, performance risk identification/analysis/mitigation, traceability, and then integration of the various components to produce a working prototype or model of the system. Typical tasks are CAD, design studies and analysis, CM, fabrication, assembly and simulation, modeling, technology conceptual designs and special studies and analysis.

Application of various techniques demonstrating that a prototype system or activity performs in accordance with the objectives outlined in the original design. Typical tasks include testing of a prototype and first article(s) testing, independent verification and validation, reverse engineering, simulation and modeling (to test the feasibility of a concept), system safety, quality assurance, physical testing of the product or system, training, privatization and outsourcing.