Software safety for every phase of software development

Area of Science:

• Software Engineering
• Project Management
• Risk Analysis

Background:

• Risk management is often compartmentalized at project initiation or completion.
• This approach overlooks continuous risk assessment needs.
• The critical nature of software in safety-critical systems necessitates a different strategy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish risk management as an integral part of the software development life cycle (SDLC).
• To delineate the necessity for formal risk management methods when patient or user safety is involved.
• To provide guidance on the implementation and extent of risk management practices.

Main Methods:

• Literature review on SDLC and risk management integration.
• Analysis of case studies involving safety-critical software.
• Framework development for continuous risk management.

Main Results:

• Risk management is most effective when applied continuously throughout the SDLC.
• Formalized risk management protocols significantly enhance safety in critical applications.
• The 'how' and 'how much' of risk management depend on the specific project context and potential impact.

Conclusions:

• Continuous risk management is essential for successful software development.
• Formal methods are indispensable for software where patient or user safety is paramount.
• This article provides a foundational understanding and practical approach to risk management in software engineering.