Developing a Methodology to Quantify Value in Complex Systems

In an era where aviation systems face mounting complexity and heightened performance demands, traditional design methods often underperform in capturing the full spectrum of stakeholders’ value. This paper introduces the Value Enhancement Methodology, a novel and structured framework aimed at embedding value-driven decision-making into the development of complex systems. The methodology was applied to evaluate a ground anti-collision system within the OPTIMATE project, with a focus on airline companies as key stakeholders. Using operational data from U.S. and Australian databases, the number of mitigable taxi-phase events was quantified. Findings indicate that the safety-related benefits are limited, especially in relation to the significant investment and procedural adaptation required for implementation. Conversely, other values, such as Profitability, Operability, and Sustainability may present more persuasive incentives for adoption. These results emphasize the importance of a multi-dimensional, stakeholder-centered evaluation approach when assessing technological innovations in aviation, particularly within an increasingly constrained and competitive industry landscape.