The Value Proposition for Assurance of JPL Systems

This paper presents a value proposition for systems assurance. The need for a value proposition is motivated by common misconceptions about the definition of assurance and the value of performing systems assurance activities. The focus of the value proposition is that assurance reduces uncertainty so that projects can make more confident decisions about their systems. Applying the value proposition has led to insights into the nature of assurance and has improved the practice of software assurance, where it has been applied at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Ongoing work on using the value proposition for “value-based tailoring” of requirements and integrating value considerations into assurance cost models are also discussed.