Abstract

This entry encourages designers to analyze and learn from failure in software products and projects. Designing software is a complex activity and human beings tend to oversimplify complex relationships. A designer or manager needs to get a good understanding of failure, its modes and causes, recognizing that failure comes in degrees and there are practical steps that can be taken to reduce the chances of failure. The entry also discusses some research related to mechanical failure and reliability-centered maintenance (RCM). Planning, systems-oriented design, development, management, and testing procedures are discussed, along with a practitioner's approach to dealing with failure when it occurs.