[SystemSafety] Logic

[Tom Ferrell]

This, Sir, is an excellent reflection of the reality in which we find
ourselves today.  The massive rush to embrace 'agile methods' is a great
example of formalizing such an approach.  

-----Original Message-----
From: systemsafety-bounces at lists.techfak.uni-bielefeld.de
[mailto:systemsafety-bounces at lists.techfak.uni-bielefeld.de] On Behalf
Of Heath Raftery
Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2014 6:36 PM
To: systemsafety at lists.techfak.uni-bielefeld.de
Subject: Re: [SystemSafety] Logic

On 19/02/2014 11:28 PM, Michael J. Pont wrote:
> It may - of course - be that the organisations I have closest contact 
> with are atypical: they are, after all, a self-selecting group.  
> However, while I'm sure that there are many organisations that have 
> mature processes in place for the development of real-time embedded 
> systems, I'm equally sure that this isn't the norm.
>
> If we assume - for the moment - that my model is correct, how do we 
> ensure that the situation is different in 10 years time?

Great points. I'd suggest that changes to education focus, while very
important, wont be the necessary trigger. There needs to be a market
force. The scenario that plays out in my world goes like this:

1. Customer C requests doodad D to solve problem P.
2. Engineer A says right, no problem, we just need to articulate the
requirements and capture them in an unambiguous way. Formal methods can
help, I'll show you the way.
3. Engineer B says, no problem, in fact here's a prototype I whipped up.

We're almost there.

Engineer A studied embedded development at an excellent facility and has
sound knowledge of formal methods.

Engineer B taught herself programming and has been writing code since
before she could drive.

4. A's manager asks how D is coming along and A says fine, we're working
through the requirements.
5. B's manager asks how D is coming along and B says fine, look I've got
the LEDs flashing and the relays clicking.

Guess which engineer gets rewarded?

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