The Role of Natural Language in Accident Investigation and Reporting Guidelines (2002) [6 citations — 2 self]
Abstract:
Abstract: The need to learn from incidents and accidents resulting from software failure to improve the development process and reduce the incidence of such events mandates a rigorous discipline of forensic software engineering. The proliferation of assumption in the notions and representations of critical concepts during a software process is a barrier to developing this discipline. This is true not only of documents such as requirements statements and investigation reports, but also of the guidelines that dictate how investigation of failures should take place. The goal of investigation guidelines is the production of a report with certain properties, and proliferation of assumptions in the statement of such guidelines impairs the attainment of this goal. Drawing on linguistics and cognitive psychology, we earlier motivated an approach to improving the natural language of requirements statements. In this paper, we examine the issues surrounding the natural language in which investigation and reporting guidelines are written, and suggest ways that they can be demonstrably and systematically improved with our approach. The issues and approach are demonstrated using the NASA Procedures and Guidelines for Mishap Reporting, Investigating, and Recordkeeping. Deficiencies are explored, potential consequences discussed, and a strategy for systematic improvement of the document is outlined.
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