Structure for Dependability: Computer-Based Systems from an Interdisciplinary Perspective

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xii

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2. Introduction

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. The role of structure: a dependability perspective

      • Cliff B Jones, Brian Randell

      Pages 3-15

   3. The role of structure: a software engineering perspective

      • Michael Jackson

      Pages 16-45

3. System Properties

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 47-47

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   2. Structuring evolution: on the evolution of socio-technical systems

      • Massimo Felici

      Pages 49-73

   3. Time bands in systems structure

      • Alan Burns, Gordon Baxter

      Pages 74-88

4. Human Components

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 89-89

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   2. Procedures, programs and their impact on dependability

      • Denis Besnard

      Pages 91-106

   3. Cognitive conflicts in dynamic systems

      • Denis Besnard, Gordon Baxter

      Pages 107-124

5. Systems Descriptions

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 125-125

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   2. Architectural description of dependable software systems

      • Cristina Gacek, Rogério de Lemos

      Pages 127-142

   3. Computational diagrammatics: diagrams and structure

      • Corin Gurr

      Pages 143-168

   4. Ethnography and the social structure of work

      • David Martin, Ian Sommerville

      Pages 169-188

   5. Faults, errors and failures in communications: a systems theory perspective on organisational structure

      • Peter Andras, Bruce Charlton

      Pages 189-213

6. Guaranteeing Dependability

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 215-215

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   2. Security implications of structure

      • Jeremy Bryans, Budi Arief

      Pages 217-227

   3. The structure of software development thought

      • Michael Jackson

      Pages 228-253

   4. On the use of diverse arguments to increase confidence in dependability claims

      • Robin Bloomfield, Bev Littlewood

      Pages 254-268

   5. Qualitative analysis of dependability argument structure

      • Mark A. Sujan, Shamus P. Smith, Michael D. Harrison

      Pages 269-287

Computer-based systems are now essential to everyday life. They involve both tech- cal (hardware/software) components and human beings as active participants. Wh- ever we ?y aboard an aircraft or withdraw money from a cash point, a combination of humans, machines and software is supporting the delivery of the service. These systems and many others bene?t from the miniaturisation and cost reduction of the hardware which has made it possible for computers to be embedded everywhere. An equally remarkable development is the software involved: today, systems are built which were literally unthinkable twenty or thirty years ago. Measured in terms of their function, the productivity of their creation has also advanced enormously (largely - cause of the software infrastructure). Even the dependability of the best of todays so- ware is praiseworthy when one considers the complexity of the functionality provided. Solid engineering and the increasing adoption of methods based on ?rmly established theory are to be thanked here. However, in large and complex systems, there remain major challenges to achieving dependability when complex interactions exist between technical and human components. Large and complex things are understood as assemblages of simpler components: the way these components ?t together is the structure of the system. Structure can be real and physical, or a subjective mental tool for analysis.

• architecture
• computer
• design
• development
• ethnography
• human-computer interaction (HCI)
• organization
• security
• software
• software development
• software engineering
• time

• School of Computing Science Claremont Tower, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

  Denis Besnard, Cristina Gacek, Cliff B. Jones

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