New Generation Computing, 21(2003)163-176
Ohmsha, Ltd. and Springer-Verlag

An Approach to discovering Risks in Development Process of Large and Complex Systems

Yoshikiyo KATO
Department of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies,
The University of Tokyo
4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8904 Japan

Takahiro SHIRAKAWA and Kohei TAKETA
Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics,
The University of Tokyo
7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656 Japan

Koichi HORI
Department of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies,
The University of Tokyo
4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8904 Japan
{yoshi,shirakawa,taketa,hori}@ai.rcast.u-tokyo.ac.jp

Received 27 February 2002

Abstract

When building a large and complex system, such as satellites, all sorts of risks have to be managed if it were to be successful. For risks in the design of an artifact, various reliability analysis techniques such as FAT or FMEA have been employed in the engineering domain. However, risks exist as well in the development process, and they could result in a failure of the system. In this paper, we present an approach to discovering risks in development process by collecting and organizing information produced during development process at low cost. We describe a prototype system called IDIMS, and show how it can be used to discover risks from e-mail communications between developers. The motivation of our work is to overcome the capture bottleneck problem, and utilize now wasted information to improve development process.

Keywords: Knowledge Management, Design Rationale, Argumentation, Computer Supported Cooperative Work, Risk Discovery.

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