NEWS 26 February 2026
Beyond the V-Model: a layered conceptual framework
Despite the widespread and disciplined use of the V-Model as a central framework in systems engineering, many projects experience late-stage integration problems that cannot be fully explained by technical uncertainty, insufficient testing, or lack of process compliance.
This Mikroniek article argues that a key underlying cause is equivocality: the presence of multiple plausible interpretations within early requirements and stakeholder statements, which often remains hidden until integration. To address this issue, the Layered V-Model is introduced as a conceptual framework that separates governance, design logic, and iteration into distinct but interacting layers. (Image courtesy of Erik Puik)
