Issues in defining, analyzing, refining, and specifying system dependability requirements

Requirements specification has long been acknowledged as an area for further research in the development of systems, particularly for those that are computer based. In addition, an IEEE White Paper by Tripp and Keane indicates that current practice regarding system dependability is in large part based on “tricks of the trade ”, and that there is a need to codify “best practices ”. This paper attempts to codify the practice for specifying dependability requirements, by classifying and describing the process and product requirements needed for such specification