Overview
Modelling complex adaptive systems is challenging and necessary to develop solutions to real world problems. Testing and validation of these models is equally important to ensure simulations meet their desired intent.
Context
Technical debt is endemic to software systems, it has parallels to maintenance debt in engineering. Understanding technical debt in today’s complex systems of systems is necessary to prevent software maintenance issues escalating. This issue is particularly significant for Australia’s Iron Ore Mining industry.
Purpose
There is no methodology currently available to model, test and validate Technical Debt in complex adaptive software systems. In this presentation development, testing and validation of a model of technical debt is given. Potential to augment complex system model validation using the approach discussed is also presented.
Approach
A qualitative study is undertaken to identify technical debt through interviews with technical and management personnel in a remote operations centre. Thematic analysis identified 7 main elements that contribute positively or negatively to managing technical debt. Elements are represented as a systems dynamics causal diagram. A serious game based on these results is developed, tested, and validated using a series of semi-controlled research experiments.
Insights
Technical debt is a socio-technical problem that can be successfully modelled using causal loop diagrams. Simulation development from causal loop diagrams is verified as a viable development methodology, with potential to further augment current model and simulation validation.