Message sequence chart specifications with cross verification

Current software specification verification methods are usually performed within the context of the specification method. There is little cross verification, pitting one type of specification against another, taking place. The most common techniques involve syntax checks across specifications or doing specification transformations and running verification within the new context. Since viewpoints of a system are different even within programming teams we concentrate on producing an efficient way to run cross verification on specifications, particularly specifications written with Message Sequence Charts and State Transition Diagrams.;In this work an algorithm is proposed in which all conditional MSCs are transformed into an algebraic representations, Message Flow Graphs and by stepwise refinement, a Global State Transition Graph is created. This GSTG has all the properties of a State Transition Diagram and therefore can be analyzed in conjunction with the original STD

Controllability problems in MSC-based testing

This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in The Computer Journal following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version [Dan, H and Hierons, RM (2012), "Controllability Problems in MSC-Based Testing", The Computer Journal, 55(11), 1270-1287] is available online at: http://comjnl.oxfordjournals.org/content/55/11/1270. Copyright @ The Authors 2011.In testing systems with distributed interfaces/ports, we may place a separate tester at each port. It is known that this approach can introduce controllability problems which have received much attention in testing from finite state machines. Message sequence charts (MSCs) form an alternative, commonly used, language for modelling distributed systems. However, controllability problems in testing from MSCs have not been thoroughly investigated. In this paper, controllability problems in MSC test cases are analysed with three notions of observability: local, tester and global. We identify two types of controllability problem in MSC-based testing. It transpires that each type of controllability problem is related to a type of MSC pathology. Controllability problems of timing are caused by races but not every race causes controllability problems; controllability problems of choice are caused by non-local choices and not every non-local choice causes controllability problems. We show that some controllability problems of timing are avoidable and some controllability problems of choice can be overcome when testers have better observational power. Algorithms are provided to tackle both types of controllability problems. Finally, we show how one can overcome controllability problems using a coordination service with status messages based on algorithms developed in this paper.EPSR

Zero-gravity cloud physics laboratory: Experiment program definition and preliminary laboratory concept studies

The experiment program definition and preliminary laboratory concept studies on the zero G cloud physics laboratory are reported. This program involves the definition and development of an atmospheric cloud physics laboratory and the selection and delineations of a set of candidate experiments that must utilize the unique environment of zero gravity or near zero gravity

Beyond customer satisfaction. Supporting organisational change through Service Design. A case study in the insurance industry

Insurance companies are in the midst of massive disruptive change occurring as a result of new consumption models and technologies. Companies unable to keep up with the rapid pace of change run the risk of disappearing. Service Design has become an essential practice for firms competing in experience-centred sectors. However, Service Design is not only limited to improving customer experience: it has also been proposed as an enabler for strategic and organisational change. This paper presents a case study in which Service Design was applied to foster transformative strategy and processes in an insurance company. The experiment has shown that Service Design can help companies to identify new business opportunities, as well as assisting organisational transformations. The findings in this paper show that by adopting Design-led approaches, firms can achieve faster and more flexible New Service Development processes able to significantly reduce time to market

Active Development of Tacit Knowledge: ADTK In a World Without Farmers

Experiential Learning Theory (ELT) and extensions such as Transformative Learning Theory offer significant potential for skill development later in life – reskilling. Despite wide acceptance and deployment, practitioners are still obliged to design their own methods and activities in order to implement these theories. This paper introduces a novel curricular model, Active Development of Tacit Knowledge (ADTK). Educators can use ADTK to effectively implement and scale ELT. Agricultural Education, specifically the training of new farmers, is used as a sample context to demonstrate ADTK. In new-farmer education, it is necessary to compress the educational cycles of dozens of years of seasonal feedback and generations of familial knowledge to replicate a farm upbringing, often within just weeks or months. Increasing global demand for farm products along with economic constraints limit options for learn by doing on the farm where a poor understanding of natural processes can cause a new farmer to irreparably harm the environment of production. Globally, highly productive farmers are aging out of production, adding urgency to the demand for competent new producers. The combination of system stresses requires teaching methodology that accurately develops frequent and repetitive on-farm decision-making processes that are production environment centered. Yet many new practitioners possess pre-existing and variable skills, knowledge, or information that may not be compatible with their successful farm management needs. ADTK encourages learners to draw out tacit knowledge and restructure pre-existing beliefs with new information into a stable foundation from which a more complex theoretical development and mastery of skills can evolve. Keywords: new-farmer, agriculture education, tacit knowledge, agriculture, experiential, self-directed, farm, beginning farmer, training

Design for testability in hardware-software systems

Clearly, in today's complex systems, hardware and software approaches to DFT must work together to achieve a successful overall solution. The authors investigate existing and new concepts that may lead to a single design for test strategy in the futur