The Analysis Pattern defines four Viewpoints that allow aspects of analysis to be captured. The Issue Identification Viewpoint captures the issues to be considered, the Risk Definition Viewpoint defines the risk associated with the issues, the Analysis Viewpoint provides the analysis of risks considered worthy of analysing and finally the Feedback Viewpoint provides recommendations based on the results of the analysis. It is key to ensure that although experts may be used to carry out analysis and that their expertise can also be used to make decisions that these two aspects are not conflated. Analysis provides an understanding of a system associated with a set of recommendations to improve the system. The `Recommendation' allows an expert to interpret the `Result' of the `Analysis' and provide a focused response from their point of view, this of course may result in different `Recommendation' from different experts for the same analysis which in themselves will have to be balanced out. The key here is not to fall into the trap of paralysis by Analysis.

Chapter Contents:

• 12.1 Introduction
• 12.1.1 Pattern aims
• 12.2 Concepts
• 12.3 Viewpoints
• 12.3.1 Overview
• 12.3.2 Rules
• 12.3.3 Issue Identification Viewpoint (IIVp)
• 12.3.3.1 Description
• 12.3.3.2 Example Issue Identification Viewpoint
• 12.3.4 Risk Definition Viewpoint (RDVp)
• 12.3.4.1 Description
• 12.3.4.2 Example Risk Definition Viewpoint
• 12.3.5 Analysis Viewpoint (AVp)
• 12.3.5.1 Description
• 12.3.5.2 Example Analysis Viewpoints
• 12.3.5.2.1 Cause Analysis
• 12.3.5.2.2 Effect Analysis
• 12.3.6 Feedback Viewpoint (FVp)
• 12.3.6.1 Description
• 12.3.6.2 Example Feedback Viewpoint
• 12.4 Summary
• 12.5 Related Patterns
• Further reading

Inspec keywords: systems analysis; risk management

Other keywords: analysis pattern; risk analysis; system understanding; system analysis; analysis viewpoint; risk definition viewpoint; feedback viewpoint; recommendations; issue identification viewpoint

Subjects: Software management; Systems analysis and programming