What Should We Do to Prevent Software from Failing?

The critical software and technical systems we rely on daily are like invisible skyscrapers all around us — yet we often don’t know who designed them, how they were constructed, or whether they hide defects that could lead to massive inconvenience, financial chaos, or catastrophic failures. To help prevent other catastrophes, industries that provide critical products and services built with rapidly evolving hardware and software need to consider how they can ensure their businesses have a level of digital resiliency that justifies the trust society has placed in them. Except in rare cases, such as the platforms used in the airline industry and the space program, no professional engineer or architect signs off on the plans for critical computer programs and hardware platforms, and no government inspector certifies them for use.

Source: sloanreview.mit.edu