Responsibility and Dependable Systems [Paperback]

This book brings together for the first time two important features of a computer system that must be embedded in an organisational context. First comes responsibility, in other words, whether the computer system properly supports the organisational responsibilities that people are allocated. Second, the book examines dependability, which means whether the system supports those responsibilities in a trustworthy fashion. Aimed at researchers and doctoral students, the work pays particular attention to looking at what happens when things go wrong.

Introduction: Dependability and Responsibility in Context.- Introduction: Dependability and Responsibility in Context.- Philosophical and Social Aspects.- Responsibility: A Philosophical Perspective.- Responsibility in Practice.- Complex Organisational Responsibilities: The Ladbroke Grove Rail Inquiry.- Modelling.- Responsibility Modelling: Basic Concepts.- Models for Understanding Responsibilities.- Understanding Failure: The London Ambulance Service Disaster.- New Methods.- Models for Responsibility Assignment.- Causal Responsibility Models.- Modelling in Practice.

From the reviews:

Unique consideration of social and human factors in designing responsibility and dependability into complex systems makes this treatise appropriate for system engineers, social scientists, and graduate students. & Responsibility modeling is discussed in detail, and useful tools are presented for the analysis and technical design of complex systems. & The book is an appropriate length, and contains a good index and list of references & . I recommend this book & . (Brad Reid, Computing Reviews, January, 2008)

It is a truism that human error is a common reason for failure in complex systems. These errors sometimes lead to system failures because designers have failed to consider the normal human tendency to make mistakes. In other cases, errors arise because olóâ