What are the best ways to ensure system reliability and resilience in the face of change?

System reliability and resilience are essential qualities for any system that needs to operate in dynamic and uncertain environments. Reliability means that the system can perform its intended functions consistently and correctly, while resilience means that the system can adapt and recover from disruptions and changes. How can you ensure that your system has both reliability and resilience in the face of change? Here are some best practices that can help you design, develop, and maintain a robust system.

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1 Define clear and realistic requirements

The first step to ensure system reliability and resilience is to define the requirements that specify what the system should do, how well it should do it, and under what conditions. Requirements should be clear, realistic, measurable, and verifiable, and they should reflect the needs and expectations of the stakeholders. Requirements should also consider the possible changes and uncertainties that the system might encounter, such as environmental, operational, technical, or regulatory changes.

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Călin Damian Tănase

Maximize IT Performance: 🪂 Resiliency 💰 Financials 🚅 Performance 🟩 Availability 🔥 Recoverability 🏢 Scalability 🗝️ Security 🚆 Operational Efficiency
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~85% of IT projects fail (completely fail, took longer, spent more budget, partial delivery on the requirements, etc). One of the main reasons for failure is unrealistic expectations. From my experience defining what's Realistic to achieve AFTER well defining functional and non functional requirements boils down to: 1. understanding what one can do with the allocated resources ($, people skills and availability, technology limits) 2. client, contractors, 3rd parties processes that might hinder to delivering (at all or on time or on budget)

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Çağrı Doğal Gül

Mechanical Engineering in BSc Expert Ballistic Weapon Designer Rocket Scientist (SRM)
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According to the changes in the enduser requirements you should define clear and realistic part of them. Additionally you should understand way of verification methodology for all of those requirements in the project process. You should collaborate with all shareholders in this study.

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2 Apply systems thinking and modeling

The second step to ensure system reliability and resilience is to apply systems thinking and modeling techniques to understand the system as a whole, as well as its components, interactions, behaviors, and emergent properties. Systems thinking and modeling can help you identify the critical functions, dependencies, risks, and opportunities of the system, and how they might be affected by changes. Systems thinking and modeling can also help you explore different scenarios, alternatives, and trade-offs, and evaluate the impacts and outcomes of your design decisions.

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Prithvi Raj Macha

R&D Engineer
(edited)
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In my role during testing Bombardier Transportation Technology, I faced a challenge of PCB testing. Instead of focusing solely on individual components, I applied systems thinking and modeling. This approach unveiled intricate interdependencies and allowed us to simulate various testing scenarios. When a sudden issue arose, our model helped us quickly adjust our testing protocols, ensuring the reliability of PCBs and minimizing production delays. This experience emphasized that in PCB testing within Bombardier's complex technology systems, a systems thinking and modeling approach is crucial for ensuring reliability and efficiency.

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3 Implement modular and flexible architectures

The third step to ensure system reliability and resilience is to implement modular and flexible architectures that can accommodate changes and variations without compromising the system performance and functionality. Modular architectures divide the system into independent and interchangeable units that can be easily added, removed, or replaced. Flexible architectures allow the system to adjust its configuration, parameters, or behavior according to the changes in the environment or the user needs. Modular and flexible architectures can increase the system adaptability, scalability, and maintainability.

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4 Incorporate redundancy and diversity

The fourth step to ensure system reliability and resilience is to incorporate redundancy and diversity into the system design. Redundancy means having multiple or backup elements that can perform the same or similar functions in case of failures or errors. Diversity means having different or alternative elements that can perform different or complementary functions in case of changes or disruptions. Redundancy and diversity can increase the system fault tolerance, robustness, and survivability.

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5 Test and validate extensively

The fifth step to ensure system reliability and resilience is to test and validate the system extensively before, during, and after the deployment. Testing and validation can help you verify that the system meets the requirements, performs as expected, and handles the changes and uncertainties effectively. Testing and validation can also help you identify and correct any defects, errors, or vulnerabilities that might compromise the system reliability and resilience. Testing and validation should cover different levels, aspects, and modes of the system operation, and use realistic and diverse data and scenarios.

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6 Monitor and update continuously

The sixth step to ensure system reliability and resilience is to monitor and update the system continuously throughout its lifecycle. Monitoring and updating can help you track the system performance, status, and feedback, and detect any anomalies, deviations, or opportunities for improvement. Monitoring and updating can also help you respond to the changes and uncertainties in a timely and appropriate manner, and implement any necessary adjustments, corrections, or enhancements to the system. Monitoring and updating should involve the stakeholders, users, and operators, and use data-driven and evidence-based methods.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Romesh D. Niriella

Transforming Tech into Time, Freedom, and Profit
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Team dynamics and psychological safety plays a major role in systems resiliency. If people who build the systems are not performing at their peak how can you expect systems to be resilient when devs are anxious?

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What are the best ways to ensure system reliability and resilience in the face of change?

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1 Define clear and realistic requirements

2 Apply systems thinking and modeling

3 Implement modular and flexible architectures

4 Incorporate redundancy and diversity

5 Test and validate extensively

6 Monitor and update continuously

7 Here’s what else to consider

Systems Engineering

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What are the best ways to ensure system reliability and resilience in the face of change?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Define clear and realistic requirements

2 Apply systems thinking and modeling

3 Implement modular and flexible architectures

4 Incorporate redundancy and diversity

5 Test and validate extensively

6 Monitor and update continuously

7 Here’s what else to consider

Systems Engineering

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