The unification of inter-functional couplings in FRAM

Gostiša, Karmen (author), Mraz, Miha (mentor), Vorraber, Wolfgang (co-mentor)

With a growing complexity of socio-technical systems and event outcomes that cannot be understood in terms of causality, traditional accident modelling approaches are no longer adequate to analyse accidents in such systems. Thus, in recent years novel systemic approaches have been developed. Functional Resonance Analysis Method (FRAM) is a means to understand how seemingly small performance variations of functions in a complex socio-technical system coincide and mutually affect each other in unexpected ways resulting in the functional resonance. A FRAM model consists of essential system functions, each characterised by six aspects. The functional resonance is defined based on couplings among aspects. Currently, the method provides only a general classification of couplings: Matter, Energy or Information (MEI). Such classification prevents an analytical view on the complex structure of relations in observed socio-technical systems and permits the construction of non-uniform models. This thesis, thus, seeks to unify FRAM models by developing a classification scheme of inter-functional couplings. The proposed MEDI classification helps to maximise compatibility, safety and quality of FRAM models in general. It represents one of the necessary steps towards the method automatisation.

• Language: English
• Keywords: safety, socio-technical systems, Functional Resonance Analysis Method (FRAM), inter-functional protocol
• Work type: Master's thesis/paper
• Typology: 2.09 - Master's Thesis
• Organization: FRI - Faculty of Computer and Information Science
• Year: 2020
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-117218
• COBISS.SI-ID: 32290051
• Publication date in RUL: 02.07.2020

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Poenotenje medaspektnih povezav v metodi FRAM

Abstract

Ob vse večji zapletenosti socio-tehničnih sistemov in izidov dogodkov, ki jih ni mogoče razumeti z vidika vzročnosti, tradicionalne metode za modeliranje nesreč v takšnih sistemih ne ustrezajo več. V zadnjih letih so bili zato razviti novi analitični pristopi. Metoda FRAM ali metoda analize funkcijske resonance je metodologija, ki omogoča razumevanje, kako na videz majhne variacije delovanja funkcij v zapletenem socio-tehničnem sistemu sovpadajo in medsebojno vplivajo na nepričakovane načine, ki povzročijo funkcijsko resonanco. Model FRAM sestavljajo ključne sistemske funkcije, opisane s šestimi aspekti. Funkcijska resonanca je opredeljena na podlagi povezav med funkcijami. Trenutno metoda ponuja le splošno klasifikacijo povezav: Materija, Energija ali Informacija (MEI). Takšna klasifikacija onemogoča analitični pogled na zapleteno strukturo relacij v opazovanem sistemu in dopušča gradnjo nepoenotenih modelov. Cilj pričujočega dela je poenotiti modele FRAM z razvojem klasifikacijske sheme medaspektnih povezav. Predlagana nova klasifikacija medaspektnih povezav MEDI pripomore k večji združljivosti, varnosti in kakovosti modelov FRAM na splošno, ter predstavlja enega od potrebnih korakov k avtomatizaciji metode.

• Keywords: varnost, socio-tehnični sistemi, metoda analize funkcijske resonance (FRAM), protokol medaspektnih povezav