Chapter 10 – Sociotechnical systems. The objectives of this chapter are to introduce the concept of a sociotechnical system a system that includes people, software, and hardware and to show that you need to take a systems perspective on security and dependability. | Chapter 10 – Sociotechnical Systems Lecture 1 1 Chapter 10 Sociotechnical Systems Topics covered Complex systems Systems engineering Systems procurement System development System operation Chapter 10 Sociotechnical Systems 2 Systems Software engineering is not an isolated activity but is part of a broader systems engineering process. Software systems are therefore not isolated systems but are essential components of broader systems that have a human, social or organizational purpose. Example Wilderness weather system is part of broader weather recording and forecasting systems These include hardware and software, forecasting processes, system users, the organizations that depend on weather forecasts, etc. Chapter 10 Sociotechnical Systems 3 The sociotechnical systems stack 4 Chapter 10 Sociotechnical Systems Layers in the STS stack Equipment Hardware devices, some of which may be computers. Most devices will include an embedded system of some kind. Operating system Provides a set of . | Chapter 10 – Sociotechnical Systems Lecture 1 1 Chapter 10 Sociotechnical Systems Topics covered Complex systems Systems engineering Systems procurement System development System operation Chapter 10 Sociotechnical Systems 2 Systems Software engineering is not an isolated activity but is part of a broader systems engineering process. Software systems are therefore not isolated systems but are essential components of broader systems that have a human, social or organizational purpose. Example Wilderness weather system is part of broader weather recording and forecasting systems These include hardware and software, forecasting processes, system users, the organizations that depend on weather forecasts, etc. Chapter 10 Sociotechnical Systems 3 The sociotechnical systems stack 4 Chapter 10 Sociotechnical Systems Layers in the STS stack Equipment Hardware devices, some of which may be computers. Most devices will include an embedded system of some kind. Operating system Provides a set of common facilities for higher levels in the system. Communications and data management Middleware that provides access to remote systems and databases. Application systems Specific functionality to meet some organization requirements. Chapter 10 Sociotechnical Systems 5 Layers in the STS stack Business processes A set of processes involving people and computer systems that support the activities of the business. Organizations Higher level strategic business activities that affect the operation of the system. Society Laws, regulation and culture that affect the operation of the system. Chapter 10 Sociotechnical Systems 6 Holistic system design There are interactions and dependencies between the layers in a system and changes at one level ripple through the other levels Example: Change in regulations (society) leads to changes in business processes and application software. For dependability, a systems perspective is essential Contain software failures within the enclosing layers of the .
