Value-based Engineering with IEEE 7000TM

TL;DR

This paper introduces the IEEE 7000TM standard for Value-based Engineering, a structured methodology integrating ethics, risk, and innovation management to develop responsible IT systems.

Contribution

It presents the VBE approach standardized in IEEE 7000TM, combining multiple management disciplines into a transparent, step-by-step framework for ethical system development.

Findings

Tested in various case studies

Provides a robust value ontology and terminology

Offers a clear process for ethical system engineering

Abstract

Digital ethics is being discussed worldwide as a necessity to create more reliable IT systems. This discussion, fueled by the fear of uncontrollable artificial intelligence (AI) has moved many institutions and scientists to demand a value-based system engineering. This article presents how organizations can build responsible and ethically founded systems with the 'Value-based Engineering' (VBE) approach that was standardized in the IEEE 7000TM standard. VBE is a transparent, clearly-structured, step-by-step methodology combining innovation management, risk management, system and software engineering in one process framework. It embeds a robust value ontology and terminology. It has been tested in various case studies. This article introduces readers to the most important steps and contributions of the approach.