Open minds. Open doors. TM MIME Capstone Design Responsibility and Professionalism Writing Good Requirements Project Awards

Open minds. Open doors. TM MIME Capstone Design Responsibility and Professionalism

Open minds. Open doors. TM What is Responsibility?

Open minds. Open doors. TM Responsibility* Causal Responsibility Causal Responsibility – being the cause of some event Job Responsibility Job Responsibility – one’s assigned job tasks Legal Responsibility Legal Responsibility – whatever the law requires Moral Responsibility Moral Responsibility * Martin, M. & R. Schinzinger (2005). Ethics In Engineering, fourth edition. Boston: McGraw Hill.

Open minds. Open doors. TM Moral Responsibility Moral View / Moral Perspective Moral View / Moral Perspective – consider others (not just self) – take pro/con position – assume universalizability Morally Responsible (senses of the term)* Morally Responsible (senses of the term)* – Obligated (having obligation for someone’s well-being) – Accountable (i.e., capable of making morally correct decisions) – Conscientious (diligently trying to do the right thing) – Blameworthy / Praiseworthy (i.e., successful or not) * Martin & R. Schinzinger (2005)

Open minds. Open doors. TM The Responsible Engineer: Working Definitions Moral Responsibility Moral Responsibility – Being under requirement to act on behalf of someone or something, so as to achieve some good or avert some evil. A Moral Responsibility A Moral Responsibility – Such a requirement. The Responsible Engineer diligently strives The Responsible Engineer diligently strives – to understand the meaning of moral responsibility and its implications in his or her life, – to know his/her professional moral responsibilities, and – to think and act so as to fulfill those responsibilities.

Open minds. Open doors. TM What Are Your Moral Responsibilities In Senior Projects?

Open minds. Open doors. TM Professionalism Profession: form of work involving Profession: form of work involving – Advanced expertise sophisticated skills sophisticated skills theoretical knowledge theoretical knowledge – Self-regulation e.g., professional societies e.g., professional societies autonomy autonomy – Concerted service to the public good serves some public good serves some public good has high ethical (moral) standards has high ethical (moral) standards carries moral responsibility carries moral responsibility

Open minds. Open doors. TM Professionalism: Some Definitions* “Professionalism implies a certain set of attitudes. A professional analyzes problems from a base of knowledge in a specific area, in a manner which is objective and independent of self-interest and directed toward the best interests of his client. In fact, the professional’s task is to know what is best for his client even if his client does not know himself.” – Lawrence Storch “Professionalism implies a certain set of attitudes. A professional analyzes problems from a base of knowledge in a specific area, in a manner which is objective and independent of self-interest and directed toward the best interests of his client. In fact, the professional’s task is to know what is best for his client even if his client does not know himself.” – Lawrence Storch “So long as the individual is looked upon as an employee rather than as a free artisan, to that extent there is no professional status.” – Robert Whitelaw “So long as the individual is looked upon as an employee rather than as a free artisan, to that extent there is no professional status.” – Robert Whitelaw “A truly professional man will go beyond the call to duty. He will assume his just share of the responsibility to use his special knowledge to make his community, his state, and his nation a better place in which to live. He will give freely of his time, his energy, and his worldly goods to assist his fellow man and promote the welfare of his community. He will assume his full share of public responsibility.” – Harry Simrall “A truly professional man will go beyond the call to duty. He will assume his just share of the responsibility to use his special knowledge to make his community, his state, and his nation a better place in which to live. He will give freely of his time, his energy, and his worldly goods to assist his fellow man and promote the welfare of his community. He will assume his full share of public responsibility.” – Harry Simrall * All cited in Martin & Schinzinger (2005).

Open minds. Open doors. TM MIME Senior Projects Professionalism Moral Responsibility – Being a Responsible Engineer Moral Responsibility – Being a Responsible Engineer Timeliness Timeliness Attentiveness Attentiveness Respect, Courtesy Respect, Courtesy Technical Competence Technical Competence Quality Quality Commitment Commitment Professional Attitude, Demeanor, e.g., in Professional Attitude, Demeanor, e.g., in – oral presentation attire – communication

Open minds. Open doors. TM Oral Presentation Attire: Business Casual For men For men – coat and/or dress shirt with collar, – slacks and dress shoes, – or something else within that range of formality. For women, For women, – skirted suit or pantsuit, a professional-style dress, – low-heeled pumps, – or something else within that range of formality. See VirginiaTech's Business Casual Attire page See VirginiaTech's Business Casual Attire page –

Open minds. Open doors. TM MIME Capstone Design Writing Good Requirements

Open minds. Open doors. TM Writing Requirements Guidelines for a Requirements Document: Requirements state something: – Necessary – Verifiable – Attainable – and they state it clearly. Common Problems: – Making bad assumptions – Writing implementation (HOW) instead of requirements (WHAT) – Describing operations instead of writing requirements – Using incorrect terms – Using incorrect sentence structure or bad grammar – Missing requirements – Over-specifying

Open minds. Open doors. TM Making bad assumptions No access to appropriate information – Solution: Make information available to all authors by, e.g., Notebook Website Information does not exist – Solution: Authors should document all assumptions

Open minds. Open doors. TM Writing implementation (HOW) instead of requirements (WHAT) Example: – The workstation shall include an RDM hydraulic lift, adjustable-height work table. (IMPLEMENTATION) The requirement should state WHAT is needed not HOW it is to be provided. Solution: Ask the question: WHY do you need the requirement?

Open minds. Open doors. TM Writing implementation (HOW) instead of requirements (WHAT) Answers: – Workers of various sizes will use the workstation. – A typical workpiece requires handwork about four inches above the surface supporting it. – By ergonomic guidelines, the workpiece should be slightly below elbow level. This is real requirement: – The workstation shall be adjustable so that the work surface is 4 in below the elbow level of the worker. It leaves lots of options open for implementation.

Open minds. Open doors. TM Describing operations instead of writing requirements Similar to the implementation problem Examples: – Tools shall be returned to dedicated storage spaces when they are no longer needed. (OPERATION) – Workers shall place the parts needed for each widget in a separate container for temporary storage and transportation. (OPERATION) Real Requirements: – A dedicated storage space shall be provided for each tool. – A means shall be provided for temporary storage and transportations of the parts required for each widget.

Open minds. Open doors. TM Using Incorrect Terms Use of Terms: – Requirements use the word “shall”. – Statements of fact use “will”. – Goals use “should”. Terms to avoid: – support – but not limited to – etc. – and/or

Open minds. Open doors. TM Using incorrect sentence structure or bad grammar Requirements should be easy to read and understand. Format: – The system shall provide… – The system shall be capable of … – The system shall weigh … – Subsystem #1 shall provide – Subsystem #2 shall interface with … Note: the name of the system and subsystem appears in these locations, if the system name is complex, use acronyms. Guidelines: – Each “shall” should be followed by a single predicate, not by a list. – Should not be complicated by explanation of operations, design or other information.

Open minds. Open doors. TM Unverifiable Requirements Avoid ambiguous terms: – Minimize – Maximize – Rapid – User-friendly – Easy – Sufficient – Adequate – Quick Be specific. – How rapid? 10 per hour, 5 per hour. – What is sufficient? 10 units, 100 units. – What is user-friendly? If you are not sure yet, – enclose the term in asterisks (e.g., *rapid*).

Open minds. Open doors. TM Missing requirements Use models and other elaboration tools to make sure every aspect of the system is specified. Requirements Drivers (i.e., things to think about): – Functional – Reliability – Performance – Maintainability – Interface – Operability – Environment – Safety – Facility – Regulatory – Transportation – Security – Deployment – Privacy – Training – Design constraints – Personnel – Usability

Open minds. Open doors. TM Over-specifying Major cause of cost overruns and delivery time delays. Ask the question why it is needed before writing it as a requirement. Be aware of over stringent requirements – Allow for tolerances (i.e. if height of a table is specified to be 1000 mm allow for variations, such as /- 10mm)

Open minds. Open doors. TM Validation: Making Sure the Requirements Are Correct Examine the requirements for: – Ambiguity – Inconsistencies – Omissions – Errors Validation reviewers: – Engineers – Users – Customers – Other stakeholders

Open minds. Open doors. TM SMART: Guidelines For Requirements Checking SSpecific? Well defined and clear to anyone involved in the product/process. MMeasurable? Have a way of quantifiable measurement to know when the requirement is reached. AAgreed Upon? Agreement between both you and your customer. RRealistic? Within the availability of resources, time, and knowledge TTime Based? Enough time to produce the desired requirement.

Open minds. Open doors. TM MIME Capstone Design Project Awards