A new method of consensus building for open systems dependability

This paper proposes a V-model method to build consensus on dependability of the target system through collaborative construction of D-Case aligned with the organizational structure of stakeholders. D-Case is an extended assurance case supported by D-ADD agreement description database in the DEOS process for open systems dependability. The example target system here is Business Broadcasting System, the mission-critical system of commercial TV stations. We identify four issues in consensus building using D-Case and show how they are overcome using the functionality of D-ADD in our method: 1) Ensuring the integrity of D-Case, 2) Identifying the area affected by a D-Case modification, 3) Writing D-Case with multiple authors, and 4) Clarifying the scope of responsibility of each stakeholder.