IEEE Standard 15288 Technical Processes 

Introduction 

The following sections detail how the 14 Technical Process contained in IEEE Standard 15288 might be applied to lawmaking.
Note: While the processes are listed sequentially, in practice they are often performed in an iterative, recursive, and/or concurrent manner.

For simplicity, they are listed here:

  1. Mission Analysis
  2. Stakeholder Needs and Requirements Definition Process
  3. System Requirements Definition Process
  4. Architecture Definition Process
  5. Design Definition Process
  6. System Analysis Process
  7. Implementation Process
  8. Integration Process
  9. Verification Process
  10. Transition Process
  11. Validation Process
  12. Operation Process
  13. Maintenance Process
  14. Disposal Process

[Need hierarchy diagram equivalent to system, subsystem, element, component. See section 6.4.8 Integration.]


6.4.1 Mission Analysis 

Purpose
The purpose of the Mission Analysis process is to define the business or opportunity, characterize the solution space, and determine potential solutions class(es) that could address a problem or take advantage of an opportunity.

Lawmaking Example
Elected officials identify a problem area they would like addressed.

Entry Criteria
TBD

Artifacts
Concept of Operations (CONOPS) for the proposed law. (Reference IEEE Std 1362-1998)

6.4.2 Stakeholder Needs and Requirements Definition Process 

Purpose
The purpose of the Stakeholder Needs and Requirements Definition process is to define the stakeholder requirements for a system that can provide the capabilities needed by the users and other stakeholders in a defined environment.

Lawmaking Example
Law Engineers interview and document problem area stakeholders.

Note: A stakeholder is anyone who can influence or will be influenced by the law. (Reference: Edward Freeman, Strategic Management: A Stakeholder Approach (1984))

Entry Criteria

  • Personnel are qualified to perform the tasks via a combination of education, knowledge, and/or experience.

Artifacts

  • Stakeholder Needs and Requirements Statements.
  • Full listing of all engineers and technicians who performed the work.

6.4.3 System Requirements Definition Process 

Purpose
The purpose of the System Requirements Definition process is to transform the stakeholder, user-oriented view of desired capabilities into a technical view of a solution that meets the operational needs of the user.

Lawmaking Example
Law Engineers transform stakeholder requirements into proposed law requirements, analyze proposed law requirements, and manage proposed law requirements.
Note: It is expected that many of the stakeholder requirements will conflict. The Law Engineers must analyze the requirements and determine which combination best reflects the vision portrayed in the CONOPS.

Activities include:

  • Ensuring this proposed law does not run afoul of the national, state, or local constitutions.

Entry Criteria

  • Law engineers are qualified to perform the tasks via combination of education, knowledge, and/or experience.

Artifacts

  • Proposed law requirements.
  • Documentation of data, trade offs considered, and explanation of decisions made.
  • Full listing of all engineers who performed the work.

6.4.4 Architecture Definition Process 

Purpose
The purpose of the Architecture Definition Process is to generate system architecture alternatives, to select one or more alternatives that frame stakeholder concerns and meet system requirements, and to express this in a set of consistent views.

Lawmaking Example

Entry Criteria

  • Law engineers are qualified to perform the tasks via combination of education, knowledge, and/or experience.
  • Cost estimates for the law.

Artifacts

  • Architecture Framework models.
  • Documentation of data, trade offs considered, and explanation of decisions made.
  • Full listing of all engineers who performed the work.

NOTE - For lawmaking, combining Design and System Analysis might be ideal.

6.4.5 Design Definition Process 

Purpose
The purpose of the Design Definition Process is to provide sufficient detailed data and information about the system and its elements to enable the implementation consistent with architectural entities as defined in models and views of the system architecture.

Lawmaking Example
Law Designers familiar with the law categories establish design characteristics and associated enablers that will achieve the proposed law's objectives.

Entry Criteria

  • Law engineers are qualified to perform the tasks via combination of education, knowledge, and/or experience.

Artifacts

  • Law design document.
  • Documentation of data, trade offs considered, and explanation of decisions made.
  • Full listing of all engineers who performed the work.

6.4.6 System Analysis Process 

Purpose
The purpose of the System Analysis Process is to provide a rigorous basis of data and information for technical understanding to aid decision-making across the lifecycle.

Lawmaking Example
Law Engineers study the failure modes, risks, impacts, etc. of the proposed law.

Entry Criteria

  • Law engineers are qualified to perform the tasks via combination of education, knowledge, and/or experience.
  • Exit Criteria
  • Peer review by sister lawmaking engineers. Fully adjudication of the findings.

Artifacts

  • Proposed law impact study.
  • Proposed law risks and mitigations.
  • Documentation of data, trade offs considered, and explanation of decisions made.
  • Full listing of all engineers who performed the work.
  • Cost estimates for the law. This may include cost modeling, best estimates,

6.4.7 Implementation Process 

Purpose
The purpose of the Implementation Process is to realize a specified system element.

Lawmaking Example
Law Drafters write the "legalese" of the proposed law.

Entry Criteria

  • Personnel are qualified to perform the tasks via a combination of education, knowledge, and/or experience.

Artifacts

  • Written draft of a portion of the proposed law (e.g., directive or sanction).
  • Full listing of all personnel who performed the work.
  • Documentation of data, trade offs considered, and explanation of decisions made.
  • Documentation of public comment. NOTE - this could be logically placed under a different process.

6.4.8 Integration Process 

Purpose
The purpose of the Integration Process is to synthesize a set of system elements into a realized system (product or service) that satisfies system requirements, architecture, and design.

Lawmaking Example
Law Designers synthesize the law portions (e.g., directive and sanction).

Entry Criteria

  • Personnel are qualified to perform the tasks via a combination of education, knowledge, and/or experience.

Artifacts

  • Written draft of the proposed composite law.
  • Full listing of all personnel who performed the work.

6.4.9 Verification Process 

Purpose
The purpose of the Verification Process is to provide objective evidence that a system or system element fulfills its specified requirements and characteristics.

Lawmaking Example
Law Engineers confirm the proposed law meets the specified characteristics. Methods can include inspection, modeling, etc.

Entry Criteria

  • Personnel are qualified to perform the tasks via a combination of education, knowledge, and/or experience.

Artifacts

  • Law verification report.
  • Full listing of all personnel who performed the work.

6.4.10 Transition Process 

Purpose
The purpose of the Transition Process is to establish a capability for a system to provide services specified by stakeholder requirements in the operational environment.

Lawmaking Example
Elected officials enact the law.

Entry Criteria

  • Personnel are qualified to perform the tasks via a combination of education, knowledge, and/or experience.

Artifacts

  • Updated constitution, statute, regulation, etc.
  • Full listing of all personnel who performed the work.

6.4.11 Validation Process 

Purpose
The purpose of the Validation Process is to provide objective evidence that the system, when in use, fulfills its business or mission objectives and stakeholder requirements, achieving its intended use in in its intended operational environment.

Lawmaking Example
Pre-enactment:

  • Law Engineers interview stakeholders and obtain feedback on the proposed law.
  • Law Scientists simulate the effects of the new law.
  • Law Engineers compare the simulated results to the law's intended purpose.

Post-enactment:

  • Law Scientists observe the effects of the new law.
  • Law Engineers compare the observed effects to the law's intended purpose.

Entry Criteria

  • Personnel are qualified to perform the tasks via a combination of education, knowledge, and/or experience.

Artifacts

  • Analysis of stakeholder review
  • Simulation Report
  • Initial Analysis Report for Law XYZ
  • Periodic Analysis Report for LAW XYZ
  • Full listing of all personnel who performed the work.

6.4.12 Operation Process 

Purpose
The purpose of the Operation Process is to use the system to deliver its services.

Lawmaking Example
The executive branch operates and enforces the law.

Entry Criteria

  • Personnel are qualified to perform the tasks via a combination of education, knowledge, and/or experience.

Artifacts

  • Criminal charges (for criminal law)
  • [Need other examples for other types of law]
  • Full listing of all personnel who performed the work.

6.4.13 Maintenance Process 

Purpose
The purpose of the Maintenance Process is sustain the capability of the system to provide a service.

Lawmaking Example

  • Retain law enforcement (for criminal law)
  • [Need other examples]

Entry Criteria

  • Personnel are qualified to perform the tasks via a combination of education, knowledge, and/or experience.

Artifacts

  • Logs of inspections, etc.
  • [Need other examples]
  • Full listing of all personnel who performed the work.

6.4.14 Disposal Process 

Purpose
The purpose of the Disposal Process is to end the existence of a system element or system for a specified intended use, appropriately handle replaced or retired elements, and to properly attend to identified critical disposal needs (e.g., per an agreement, per organizational policy, or for environmental, legal, safety, security aspects).

Lawmaking Example
Elected official retract the law.

Entry Criteria

  • Personnel are qualified to perform the tasks via a combination of education, knowledge, and/or experience.

Artifacts

  • Updated constitution, statute, regulation, etc.

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