A Mathematical Framework to Apply Tradespace Exploration to the Design of Verification Strategies

Abstract

This paper is intended to disseminate some initial outcomes of the NPS Research Acquisition Program's Tradespace Exploration for Better Verification Strategies project. The research addresses the design of verification strategies in large-scale systems. Verification activities provide the evidence of contractual fulfillment. Thus, the importance of adequately defining verification activities in any acquisition program is unquestionable. Its significance extends beyond contracting though. The biggest portion of the development financial budget is spent in executing verification activities, and verification activities are the main vehicle in discovering knowledge about the system, which is key to reduce development risk. In current practice, the definition of verification strategies is driven by industry standards and subject matter expert assessment. This research addresses the main question of whether tradespace exploration can support the definition of more valuable verification strategies than current practice. We present in this paper a mathematical framework that enables the application of tradespace exploration to the design of verification strategies.