STRIVING FOR CORRECTNESS

In developing information technology, you want assurance that systems are secure and reliable, but you cannot have assurance or security wit hout correctness. We discuss methods used to achieve correctness, focu sing on weaknesses and approaches that management might take to increa se belief in correctness. Formal methods, simulation, testing, and pro cess modeling are addressed in detail. Structured programming, life-cy cle modeling like the spiral model, use of CASE tools, use of formal m ethods, object-oriented design, reuse of existing code are also mentio ned. Reliance on these methods involves some element of belief since n o validated metrics on the effectiveness of these methods exist. Sugge stions for using these methods as the basis for managerial decisions c onclude the paper.