AWOSE - A Process Model for Incorporating Ethical Analyses in Agile Systems Engineering

Area of Science:

• Computer Science
• Software Engineering
• Ethics in Technology

Background:

• Technological advancements necessitate careful consideration of ethical, legal, and social implications.
• Existing agile development methodologies often lack robust frameworks for integrating ethical criteria.
• Integrating ethical considerations is crucial for responsible socio-technical system design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce Agile Worth-Oriented Systems Engineering (AWOSE), a novel methodology for incorporating ethical criteria into agile development.
• To provide a systematic approach for identifying and addressing ethical issues throughout the system design process.
• To demonstrate the compatibility of AWOSE with agile frameworks like Scrum and Extreme Programming.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a predefined model for ethical evaluation of socio-technical systems across various dimensions.
• Integrating ethical evaluation findings with worth-centered development approaches.
• Improving 'Worth Maps' to guide task prioritization and design choices based on ethical implications.

Main Results:

• AWOSE offers a flexible methodology for embedding ethical considerations within agile development.
• The approach systematically identifies and integrates ethical concerns into information and communication technology system design.
• Improved Worth Maps facilitate ethical system evaluation and alignment with desired outcomes.

Conclusions:

• AWOSE provides a practical and agile-compatible framework for ethical systems engineering.
• The methodology enhances the systematic consideration of ethical implications in technology development.
• Demonstrated potential in a use case involving smart glasses for cognitive assistance for the elderly and disabled.