Title: “Cowboy digital” undermines safety-critical systems

Author(s): Harold Thimbleby

Publication Event: Proceedings of the Thirtieth Safety-Critical Systems Symposium

Publication Date: 2022-02-08

Resource URL: https://scsc.uk/r1534.pdf

Abstract:

A “cowboy builder” is someone who, operating beyond their level of competence who builds unsatisfactory, often unsafe, structures. This paper explores “cowboy digital” — the cowboy attitude that pervades digital leadership, management, development, and engineering. This article offers constructive suggestions, but until the cowboy digital culture is addressed effectively “safety-critical systems” will remain aspirational.