Prototyping a digital support tool for an agile implementation of STPA

Abstract

Systems Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA) is a powerful new hazard analysis method for safety engineering. This method aims to support a world where systems are more complex as a result of software. But this method might not support an environment where there is both complexity and incremental changes, such as an agile software development environment. In such an environment where there is both complexity and change, it might be preferable or needed to have digital support tools for assisting the method. This thesis aims to explore the possibility of such a tool and what functionality it could provide to an agile software development environment.

In this thesis this was explored by generating a full set of suggestions and requirements based on findings from literature and experience. These requirements were then used to implement a prototype that aimed to test these requirements.

The implemented systems functionality was then compared to other existing implementations of STPA software assistance.

The prototype was found to be currently lacking, but having a promising future if further implemented.