Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer.
To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to upgrade your browser.
SSRN Electronic Journal
Digital ethics is being discussed worldwide as a necessity to create more reliable IT systems. This discussion, fueled by the fear of uncontrollable artificial intelligence (AI) has moved many institutions and scientists to demand a value-based system engineering. This article presents how organizations can build responsible and ethically founded systems with the "Value-based Engineering" (VBE) approach that was standardized in the IEEE 7000 TM standard. 1 VBE is a transparent, clearly-structured, step-by-step methodology combining innovation management, risk management, system and software engineering in one process framework. It embeds a robust value ontology and terminology. It has been tested in various case studies. This article introduces readers to the most important steps and contributions of the approach.
This article gives a methodological overview of Value-based Engineering for ethics by design. It discusses key challenges and measures involved in eliciting, conceptualizing, prioritizing and respecting values in system design. Thereby it draws from software engineering, value sensitive design, design thinking and participatory design as well as from philosophical sources, especially Material Ethics of Value. The article recognizes timely challenges for Value-based Engineering, such as compatibility with agile forms of system development, responsibility in hardly controllable ecosystems of interconnected services, fearless integration of external stakeholders and the difficulty in measuring the ethicality of a system. Finally, the Value-based Engineering methodology presented here benefits from learnings collected in the IEEE P7000 standardization process as well as from a case study. P7000 has been set up by IEEE to establish a process model, which addresses ethical considerations throughout the various stages of system initiation, analysis and design.
2006
The Value-Based Software Engineering (VBSE) agenda described in the preceding article has the objectives of integrating value considerations into current and emerging software engineering principles and practices, and of developing an overall framework in which they compatibly reinforce each other. In this paper, we provide a case study illustrating some of the key VBSE practices, and focusing on a particular anomaly in the monitoring and control area: the "Earned Value Management System". This is a most useful technique for monitoring and controlling the cost, schedule, and progress of a complex project. But it has absolutely nothing to say about the stakeholder value of the system being developed. The paper introduces an example order-processing software project, and shows how the use of Benefits Realization Analysis, stakeholder value proposition elicitation and reconciliation, and business case analysis provides a framework for stakeholder-earned-value monitoring and control.
Research in Engineering Design, 2023
Systems design methods should aim for systems creating value. The decision-making processes in system engineering struggle to optimize this objective; however, even though the traditional concept of system value as a purely economic metric is recognized as deficient, a well-defined and standard conceptualization of comprehensive system value is still lacking. This study set out to facilitate different stakeholders, involved in developing systems, with a broad perspective on value. We define the system value as the system's holistic impact, encompassing the multi-domain effects on processes, environments, and stakeholders. This inclusive view, to be used by practitioners designing systems and policies, is expected to update existing practices and enhance resulting systems. This paper renders an extensive review of value references in multiple domains, both in system engineering and external, non-engineering, disciplines, and sets the foundation for a revised framing of value in systems engineering. To enable future applications for systems optimization, system value is thoroughly characterized, including its dependency on internal and external factors. This research lays the groundwork for problem formulation of a system value measure, its application in system engineering methods, and further analysis of the subject, both for engineered and non-technical systems.
Many people are concerned about how information systems deal with human values such as privacy and trust. In this paper, we discuss the role of human values in the design of information systems. We elaborate on the nature of human values and discuss various approaches on how to address human values, including value-sensitive design, worth-centered design and understanding as an additional step to prepare for systems design. We discuss the meaning of values like 'privacy' and 'trust' in the area of healthcare and public safety. Subsequently, we illustrate our considerations, exemplifying how privacy and trust might be embedded in a healthcare system to monitor dementia patients and how privacy might be embedded in a public safety system. Finally, we discuss how human values may be addressed in the process of developing and implementing information systems.
1992
Value Engineering (VE) techniques based on function have been the means to improved products and processes for several decades. It is a social design methodology that is usually episodic in application and often confused with narrow interests, such as cost cutting. This paper addresses the role, or function, of VE in a larger model of design practice to give insight into its use, non-use and misuse. The model identifies three levels of design practice, with a dual functional activity at its center. The process of innovative design shows tension between these functions. We conclude that VE is neither a different nor a sufficient way to design compared with more conventional analytical and synthesis techniques. It is rather a parallel and necessary process with different inputs and outputs.
Wseas Transactions on Information Science and Applications, 2008
This study tries to advance and define the concepts, principles and practical methods of a valuebased approach, involving definition of the essential concepts of value, cost and worth in software development. These definitions originate from the Value Engineering (VE) method, originally applied and developed for the needs of the production industry. Therefore, for the purposes of this study these concepts are firstly justified and secondly defined. In order to study and evaluate the value-based approach, a method called value assessment is developed and used when assessing processes and products. The results of industrial case show that even though there is still much to do in making the economic-driven view complete in software engineering, the value-based approach outlines a way towards a more comprehensive understanding of it. For industrial users value assessment seems to give a practical help for handling cost and profitability related challenges.
Icsoft, 2007
This study tries to advance and define the concepts, principles and practical methods of a valuebased approach, involving definition of the essential concepts of value, cost and worth in software development. These definitions originate from the Value Engineering (VE) method, originally applied and developed for the needs of the production industry. Therefore, for the purposes of this study these concepts are firstly justified and secondly defined. In order to study and evaluate the value-based approach, a method called value assessment is developed and used when assessing processes and products. The results of industrial case show that even though there is still much to do in making the economic-driven view complete in software engineering, the value-based approach outlines a way towards a more comprehensive understanding of it. For industrial users value assessment seems to give a practical help for handling cost and profitability related challenges.
Information Systems (IS) risk management is a challenge to every organization, in that they are exposed to cyber-attacks that bypass physical barriers. Organizations increase online business in order to remain competitive, but as a consequence their online exposure becomes greater. However their risk management practices and governance are inadequate in the face of increasing new threats and vulnerabilities. This paper presents a Multi- Objective Decision Model for assessing Information Systems Risks. The decision model is based on the values and perceptions of stakeholders. It uses the Value-Focused Thinking approach, as opposed to the predominant Alternative-Focused Thinking. The objectives serve as a basis for decision making in the context of Information Systems risk management in complex managerial situations.
2016
Nowadays, it is a great challenge to understand what models shall be used to iteratively translate customer desires into terms that are meaningful for engineering design decision-making. This paper proposes a framework illustrating the iterative evolution of model-based enablers for value during conceptual system design. The framework is developed from the analysis of four case studies in the Swedish manufacturing industry. The paper discusses the learning from the cross-case study, and elaborates on how value models may complement existing Systems Engineering practices.
Proceedings of the 2nd Wseas International Conference on Computer Engineering and Applications, 2008
The number of companies producing software has grown constantly, and it seems that we need software more and more everyday. Lately, several authors have discussed about the importance of cost efficiency and value creation in software development as well in software process and product improvement (SPI). It also seems that several companies have noticed that competition is increasing and cost-efficient companies have perhaps more competitive advantage in global markets than ever. This study discusses about the concepts, principles and practical methods of economic-driven software engineering and outlines us to understand better the content of value-based approach. This is done in part by presenting a conceptual analysis of the economic-driven view of software development including cost estimation and cost accounting and in part by discussing the costefficiency and value characteristics of software processes, products and their improvement. As a summary this study proposes to use value-based approach to find solutions for cost efficiency related challenges. As well it encourages both technical and economical sciences to work together when creating meaningful and practical solutions for our everyday use.
Business Informatics, 2018
This article presents an approach to enterprise engineering (EE) enhancement under modern conditions by including in EE possibilities and capabilities of systematic decision making support based on the values analysis of an enterprise and all the engaged parties-stakeholders of diff erent categories. The particularity of the approach consists of combining broad understanding of values, aiming at real business tasks at all the levels of enterprise management, and including digital transformations risk management in these tasks. The approach includes both "analog" and "digital" values models, and also employs heterogeneous values models. Values are regarded as a social and economic, corporate and personal phenomenon. Subjectivity, situatedness, relativity, and changeability of values are taken into consideration. The article suggests conjoint consideration of various stakeholders' (interested parties') heterogeneous values, among others, of stakeholders aff ected by digital transformations. The enterprise itself as an economic agent, its owners, employees, enterprise-partners, clients/customers, communities, social organizations, and public agencies might be among the stakeholders considered One of the key requirements is values comparability and the ability to determine the gap between diff erent stakeholders' values. Other requirements defi ne the constitution of values models and characteristics of models elements. One of the essential results of this research is the developed system of requirements. Besides, the structure of an open multidimensional enterprise values space is suggested as well as the structure of partial and integrated values models placed in this space is presented. The framework for tracing relations between the enterprise components and the stakeholders' values is proposed, and the possibility of introducing functions assessing conformity and nonconformity of diff erent stakeholders' values on the integrated values model of the enterprise is demonstrated. The presented system of requirements and models enables building and applying values models which was tested in completed projects. The approach allows enabling sustainable enterprises development under digital economy conditions at the fundamental level by values-directed management. Moreover, , it might prove useful for expanding various enterprise transformation methods, including their existing value-directed and value-centered variants.
Value elicitation in VBSE is of utmost importance as the whole domain depends on values determined by SCSs. This research aims to clarify value elicitation process with all the necessary details: simplification of SCSs identification process, review and analysis of value dimensions and value elicitation techniques. After all the required analysis, Value Elicitation Framework is proposed that helps in selection and application of appropriate value elicitation technique for a given situation in the project lifecycle. In addition to this proposed framework facilitates the decision making process by introducing the concept of value into it. Validation of VEF is also done by applying the proposed framework on a software project.
REFSQ Workshops, 2014
Software systems can give rise to ethical issues, with human values such as privacy, autonomy and responsibility at their heart. Such issues often do not become apparent until software has been put to use, and are left to be dealt with after harm has been done. However, these ethical issues are influenced by decisions made during design. A range of approaches to technology design aims to consider ethical issues and their underlying values during design, when there is more room to shape a technology. These values-oriented approaches guide designers in identifying and analyzing value issues with technology, but do not focus on deriving requirements from identified issues. As a result, the knowledge that can be gained from values-oriented methods does not find its way into requirements engineering processes. To address these challenges, we present a method to extract values and related elements obtained through existing value elicitation techniques, and to document these elements in a format that is amenable to use in further requirements engineering activities. We present a case study as a proof of concept.
VAF represents ten years of research into failed and successful efforts to field large distributed Enterprise Information System (EIS). Accordingly, VAF addresses the globally high failure rate for EIS by harvesting demonstrated successful practices and representing them in reusable templates. VAF models "value" as [utility--per-cost] x 1/[development time]. "Utility" means "ability to satisfy requirements."
International Journal of Technology: IJ Tech, 2022
Many global companies specializing in complex technological systems use forms of group decision making to select a combination of solutions from suppliers. This requires technical expertise and up-to-date awareness of what is available within and outside the company. The use of artificial intelligence seems like an obvious progression but is fraught with difficulties. As a step in this longer-term direction, this paper looks to a methodology that uses the idea of functionality to first list abstract requirements before finding potential solutions with appropriate performance characteristics. This paper re-examines a methodology called value engineering, which mixes measurable and immeasurable concepts in its foundational idea. This paper reasons and deduces a new way to conceive this foundational idea so that it can be modelled mathematically and provide a useful step toward a database ontology and schema that would suit artificial intelligence. It also provides an immediate benefit to value engineering practitioners in workshops.
IntechOpen eBooks, 2021
Human beings have become increasingly dependent on IT in running their daily lives and doing business. The development and the increase in use of Autonomous Intelligent Systems in the last few years is making it increasingly impossible to ignore ethics in engineering and building IT Systems as more factors other than the traditional ones like financials come into play. As the use of technology continues to
2000
This paper describes the experiences of a small team of domain experts in reengineering the configuration control software for the 5ESS® switch. The project consisted of three main phases: discovery, design, and deployment. During the discovery phase the team conducted a domain analysis of configuration control software. In the design phase the team created domainspecific languages and supporting tools. The deployment phase consisted of trial use and modification in response to feedback from users. Lessons learned during each of these phases are summarized.
IFIP International Federation for Information Processing, 2007
It is argued that information systems are intentionally or unintentionally informed by moral values of their makers. Since information technology has become a constitutive technology which shapes human life it is important to be aware of the value ladenness of IT design. Examples of values incorporated in design are discussed. The approach to software engineering and systems development, which is referred to as "value sensitive design", studies the ways in which our accepted moral values can be operationalized and incorporated in IT design. The historical background and ftiture program of value sensitive design in IT are sketched.
The fast-growing movement of the modern societies shows increasing implementation of operational projects in the areas of IT in organizational and national levels. And it is special and important because of the very high risks that large projects (and even small ones) experience, so we decided to examine the role of value engineering in the process of project implementation and to deal with it step by step in our project, hence the importance of beginning to define value engineering and its position among the different nations. Finally, we have proposed the expression of different techniques used in value engineering with different phases of expression during the life of IT projects, using techniques based on the proposals presented.
Loading Preview
Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. You can download the paper by clicking the button above.