2002 UK Spring Symposium
Tutorials,  8th 10 April 2002

Tutorial 1 – An Introduction to UML for Systems Engineering

Presented by Brass Bullet.

This one-day tutorial offers an introduction to the UML and applications of the UML in systems engineering.

In the first session you will gain a solid understanding in the basics of the UML and see examples of the variety of uses to which the UML might be applied. The second session focuses on requirements modelling, process modelling, quality and lifecycle management.

The tutorial will: 

• Provide you with an understanding of typical systems engineering problems
• Include discussions and demonstrations on the use of the UML
• Include discussions about how to make sense of current standards and procedures using the UML, such as ISO 15504,ISO 15288,IEC 632,IEEE 1220,ISO 12207.
• Discuss issues relating to quality when using the UML
• Discuss using the UML for requirements modelling, requirements analysis and scenario modelling.
• Provide examples of how the UML may be used throughout the systems lifecycle such as, for example, in requirements engineering.

Tutorial 2 -Requirements Engineering: a Generic Process

Presenters: Prof. Ken Jackson and Dr. Jeremy Dick, both of Telelogic UK Ltd

The principles of requirements management for systems engineering are introduced around a simple generic process, which can be instantiated at every development layer.

At each level, the generic process covers: 

• design through requirements decomposition;
• validation and verification;
• system modelling;
• customer/supplier negotiation;
• change management;
• traceability.

A clear distinction is drawn between requirements management and modelling; however, specific modelling techniques are not addressed.

Other topics covered include advanced traceability, measurement of process and project management aspects. The generic process is completely tool independent, but DOORS may be used to illustrate its application.

Tutorial 3 -Real-Time UML for Systems Engineers

Presented by Matthew Hause, Principal Consultant and Francis Thom, Consultant both of Artisan Software Tools.

This tutorial will introduce Systems Engineers into the practical application of the Unified Modelling Language (UML) specifically for Systems Engineering. It will initially look at the whole of the UML and then introduce (with an on-going Cruise Control Case Study) the specific areas of the UML that are of interest to Systems Engineers.

Aims and Objectives:

• To provide an understanding of the principles of object technology
• To enable attendees to integrate object-oriented modeling techniques into a development process
• To give attendees the confidence to apply these new concepts to their project
• To provide attendees with an understanding of how the real-time extensions enable Systems Engineers to communicate their requirements to both customer and hardware and software engineers

What will be learnt:

• Essential object-oriented concepts and terminology
• Object-oriented modeling techniques using UML
• How to apply object-oriented principles and techniques in the development of systems
• How to apply an object-oriented based incremental approach to systems development

Tutorial 4 –Using Requirements Engineering Principles to Derive Safety Requirements

Presenter: Alan Simpson of Praxis

Requirements Engineering is the keystone of systems engineering. We all know that failing to get the requirements right is the biggest cause of systems failure. But what is “right ”?It is also clear that failure to get safety requirements right has led to many accidents. How can we provide better assurance that we have the right safety requirements?

The scientific basis set out by Michael Jackson for requirements engineering has been developed by Praxis Critical Systems into a fully-fledged requirements engineering process, REVEAL TM . This process has been further developed to cover the elicitation and management of Safety Requirements.

This tutorial presents the principles of REVEAL as they apply to Safety and the safety analysis process. We have used this process to derive safety specifications for a variety of systems. The tutorial consists of lectures and exercises in which participants can put the ideas into practice on a small but realistic problem.

Target Audience

The tutorial is aimed at engineers and managers responsible for safety requirements development and management.

Tutorial 5 -Structures and Practice for Evolving Safe and Secure Systems

Presenter:  - John Boarder, Cartref Consulting Systems

Enterprise development, to the satisfaction of stakeholders, is the goal of all systems engineering. If Safety and Security are among the interests and concerns of stakeholders then systems engineering must be seen to deliver, safely and securely, Safe and Secure enterprise developments.

Our tutorial presents a dualistic approach to systems engineering and enterprise development; dualistic in terms of enterprise environment and activity. The approach begins with an enquiry into environmental and activity based issues facing stakeholders. Issues are translated into a definition of system state. State is then facilitated into a set of system change requirements, proposals for support and change management programmes acceptable to stakeholders.

Evolution of enterprise safety and security leads, through the change programme, to new issues for stakeholders which are addressed through further iterations of the change cycle.

Underlying all phases of the approach are the fundamental questions of What, Who, How, Why and When and a structured database in which issues, states, needs, support, change programmes, and therefore the historical development of the enterprise,being recorded, ensure that improvement in Safety and Security are both achieved and seen to be achieved.

Target Audience

The tutorial is of interest to engineers and managers looking for a common, integrated approach to stakeholder involvement in evolving safe and secure enterprises /systems.

Biography

John Boarder is an independent consultant for enterprise development and systems engineering. John has lectured and supervised research in Computer Science, Systems Engineering and Operations Management to certificate, diploma, degree and post graduate management students. John has also technically managed large scale European systems development projects for which system safety and security were issues.

Last Updated: 03 March, 2002