scholarly journals Information Technologies in Complex Socio-Technical Systems Based on Functional Variability: A Case Study on HVAC Maintenance Work Orders

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 1049
Author(s):  
Ivenio T. de Souza ◽  
Ana Carolina Rosa ◽  
Mario C. R Vidal ◽  
Mohammad K. Najjar ◽  
Ahmed W A Hammad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Information Technologies ◽  
Requirements Elicitation ◽  
Functional Requirements ◽  
Resilience Engineering ◽  
Building Maintenance ◽  
Requirements Specifications ◽  
It Systems ◽  
Maintenance Work ◽  
Technical Systems

Information technology (IT) systems are known to promote improvements in quality and productivity of the work environments of complex and adaptive socio-technical systems that span hardware, community and software aspects. Systems development lies in eliciting and specifying requirements. However, current requirements of elicitation techniques are limited to correctly understanding the complexity involved in socio-technical systems. Therefore, approaches based on Resilience Engineering can provide concepts and methods for a better understanding of socio-technical systems’ functioning. This study aims to increase the application of the Functional Resonance Analysis Method (FRAM) in the requirements elicitation process. Specifically, understanding variability and its role in enhancing the requirements elicitation and specification process for the design/redesign of IT systems in complex socio-technical systems deployed in building maintenance is the main goal. This study proposes the merging of human factors and ergonomics (HFE) and Resilience Engineering concepts with Software Engineering. A case study was performed with workers to produce requirements specifications for work order issuing activity. This case study indicates the usefulness of the proposed approach for the specification of functional requirements to redesign the IT system examined. FRAM enables inferences to be made from hidden or fuzzy situations that are often not expressed by system users or are not detected by the system designer.

scholarly journals On systematically building a controlled natural language for functional requirements

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alvaro Veizaga ◽  
Mauricio Alferez ◽  
Damiano Torre ◽  
Mehrdad Sabetzadeh ◽  
Lionel Briand
Keyword(s):  
Information System ◽  
Natural Language ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Empirical Evaluation ◽  
Functional Requirements ◽  
Industrial Case Study ◽  
Requirements Specifications ◽  
Financial Domain

AbstractNatural language (NL) is pervasive in software requirements specifications (SRSs). However, despite its popularity and widespread use, NL is highly prone to quality issues such as vagueness, ambiguity, and incompleteness. Controlled natural languages (CNLs) have been proposed as a way to prevent quality problems in requirements documents, while maintaining the flexibility to write and communicate requirements in an intuitive and universally understood manner. In collaboration with an industrial partner from the financial domain, we systematically develop and evaluate a CNL, named Rimay, intended at helping analysts write functional requirements. We rely on Grounded Theory for building Rimay and follow well-known guidelines for conducting and reporting industrial case study research. Our main contributions are: (1) a qualitative methodology to systematically define a CNL for functional requirements; this methodology is intended to be general for use across information-system domains, (2) a CNL grammar to represent functional requirements; this grammar is derived from our experience in the financial domain, but should be applicable, possibly with adaptations, to other information-system domains, and (3) an empirical evaluation of our CNL (Rimay) through an industrial case study. Our contributions draw on 15 representative SRSs, collectively containing 3215 NL requirements statements from the financial domain. Our evaluation shows that Rimay is expressive enough to capture, on average, 88% (405 out of 460) of the NL requirements statements in four previously unseen SRSs from the financial domain.

Organizational Requirements and the Introduction of Information Technology in Courtrooms: A Case Study

1996 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Poulson ◽  
Neil Waddell
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Systems Design ◽  
Technical Solution ◽  
Functional Requirements ◽  
Requirements Definition ◽  
It Systems ◽  
Equal Importance ◽  
Technical Solutions ◽  
Organizational Requirements

Traditional methods of systems design have tended to concentrate on capturing functional requirements and from them develop a system that will provide users with a technical solution to a problem they may have. However, there is a growing understanding, with historical origins in sociotechnical systems theory, that technical solutions alone, regardless of how well designed, may not succeed fully unless there is a concomitant understanding of the organization into which the technical solution is to be introduced. Organizational requirements, therefore, should become considerations of equal importance to systems designers. The ESPRIT Project ORDIT (organizational requirements definition for information technology) has developed a methodology which identifies and operationalizes organizational requirements for IT systems. This paper presents a case study in which the ORDIT concepts are applied to the process of introducing an IT system into a courtroom.

Boundaries of Socio-Technical Systems and IT for Knowledge Development in Military Environments

2012 ◽  
pp. 224-238
Author(s):  
Gil-Ad Ariely
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Knowledge Development ◽  
High Stakes ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Stressful Environment ◽  
It Systems ◽  
Early Adoption ◽  
Technical Systems ◽  
Point Of Reference

This article explores the boundaries of socio-technical IT systems for knowledge development, using military environments in a case study approach. The need to examine the effects of socio-technical convergence of human systems and computer systems is emerging in many fields. The article examines both the risks and the potential in military critical-environments for early adoption of socio-technical systems. The author addresses risks for creative knowledge creation by too-early adoption of information technology and the effects on socio-technical systems and sense-making. Such risks are more easily highlighted in a critical, stressful environment (stressful for man, machine, and their co-operation) with high-stakes. However, examined military environments are proposed as point of reference leading to further research in other sectors. The author argues for a socio-technical analysis before, during, and after adoption of new systems, especially those relating to knowledge development, reviewing boundaries created. Finally, the author discusses the future promise of socio-technical convergence of man-machine for knowledge development.

Boundaries of Socio-Technical Systems and IT for Knowledge Development in Military Environments

2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Gil-Ad Ariely
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Creation ◽  
Knowledge Development ◽  
Sense Making ◽  
High Stakes ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Stressful Environment ◽  
It Systems ◽  
Early Adoption ◽  
Technical Systems

This article explores the boundaries of socio-technical IT systems for knowledge development, using military environments in a case study approach. The need to examine the effects of socio-technical convergence of human systems and computer systems is emerging in many fields. The article examines both the risks and the potential in military critical-environments for early adoption of socio-technical systems. The author addresses risks for creative knowledge creation by too-early adoption of information technology and the effects on socio-technical systems and sense-making. Such risks are more easily highlighted in a critical, stressful environment (stressful for man, machine, and their co-operation) with high-stakes. However, examined military environments are proposed as point of reference leading to further research in other sectors. The author argues for a socio-technical analysis before, during, and after adoption of new systems, especially those relating to knowledge development, reviewing boundaries created. Finally, the author discusses the future promise of socio-technical convergence of man-machine for knowledge development.

scholarly journals Enhancing Maritime Crew Resource Management Training by Applying Resilience Engineering: A Case Study of the Bachelor Maritime Officer Training Programme in Rotterdam

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 378
Author(s):  
Jaco Griffioen ◽  
Monique van der Drift ◽  
Hans van den Broek
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Human Error ◽  
Crew Resource Management ◽  
Management Training ◽  
Training Programme ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Safety Performance ◽  
Resilience Engineering ◽  
Crew Resource Management Training

This paper sets out to enhance current Maritime Crew Resource Management (MCRM) training, and with that to improve the training of technical and non-technical skills given to bachelor maritime officers. The rationale for CRM training is improving safety performance by reducing accidents caused by human error. The central notion of CRM training is that applying good resource management principles during day-to-day operations will lead to a beneficial change in attitudes and behaviour regarding safety. This article therefore indicates that enhanced MCRM should play a more structural role in the training of student officers. However, the key question is: what are the required changes in attitude and behaviour that will create sufficient adaptability to improve safety performance? To provide an answer, we introduce the Resilience Engineering (RE) theory. From an RE point of view, we elaborate on the relation between team adaptability and safety performance, operationalized as a competence profile. In addition, a case study of the ‘Rotterdam Approach’ will be presented, in which the MCRM training design has been enhanced with RE, with the objective to train team adaptability skills for improved safety performance.

scholarly journals Predictive Maintenance in Building Facilities: A Machine Learning-Based Approach

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1044
Author(s):  
Yassine Bouabdallaoui ◽  
Zoubeir Lafhaj ◽  
Pascal Yim ◽  
Laure Ducoulombier ◽  
Belkacem Bennadji
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Model Development ◽  
Predictive Maintenance ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Machine Learning Techniques ◽  
Automation System ◽  
Building Maintenance ◽  
Collection Data ◽  
Iot Devices

The operation and maintenance of buildings has seen several advances in recent years. Multiple information and communication technology (ICT) solutions have been introduced to better manage building maintenance. However, maintenance practices in buildings remain less efficient and lead to significant energy waste. In this paper, a predictive maintenance framework based on machine learning techniques is proposed. This framework aims to provide guidelines to implement predictive maintenance for building installations. The framework is organised into five steps: data collection, data processing, model development, fault notification and model improvement. A sport facility was selected as a case study in this work to demonstrate the framework. Data were collected from different heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) installations using Internet of Things (IoT) devices and a building automation system (BAS). Then, a deep learning model was used to predict failures. The case study showed the potential of this framework to predict failures. However, multiple obstacles and barriers were observed related to data availability and feedback collection. The overall results of this paper can help to provide guidelines for scientists and practitioners to implement predictive maintenance approaches in buildings.

Technology in Context: Mediating Factors in the Utilization of Planning Technologies

2005 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 895-907 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ari Goelman
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Structure ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Public Access ◽  
Web Gis ◽  
Gis Technology ◽  
Additional Insight ◽  
Mediating Factors ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Insight Into

My research explores the question: how can theorists better understand the ways in which planning technologies are used by municipal planners? In the case-study municipality, a recently introduced web-GIS technology had little demonstrable success in attaining two of its stated goals: enabling increased public access to municipal geographic information and encouraging planners to produce their own maps. My research links these outcomes not only to the technologies themselves, but to organizational structure and human agency. Planners and planning theorists can gain additional insight into the impact of planning technologies through closer attention to the process through which planners come to use information technologies and the way this process both alters and is constrained by existing organizational constraints, including previously adopted technologies.

Case Study of Certification of Small Quantities of RAM: Comparison With SGQ Concept

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glenn Abramczyk ◽  
James Shuler ◽  
Steven J. Nathan ◽  
Allen C. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Radiation Dose ◽  
Dose Rate ◽  
Large Dose ◽  
Hazardous Materials ◽  
Photon Radiation ◽  
Radiation Hazard ◽  
Functional Requirements ◽  
Radioactive Materials ◽  
Regulatory Limits

The Small Gram Quantity (SGQ) concept is based on the understanding that small amounts of hazardous materials, in this case radioactive materials, are significantly less hazardous than large amounts of the same materials. The essential functional requirements for RAM packaging are containment of the material, ensuring sub-criticality, and ensuring that the radiation hazard of the package, as represented by the radiation dose for the package, is within the regulatory limits. Knowledge of the composition of the material being shipped is also required. By placing the contents in a containment vessel which is helium leaktight, and limiting the mass so that subcriticality is ensured, the first two requirements are readily met. Some materials emit sufficiently strong photon radiation that a small amount of material can yield a large dose rate. Foreknowledge of the dose rate which will be present for a proposed content is a challenging issue for the SGQ approach. Issues associated with certification for several cases of contents which fall within the SGQ envelop are discussed.

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