Validation

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Discussion

Validation is the evaluation of an identified subject against defined Validation Criteria for a stated purpose.

Validation determines whether available information supports a Validation Decision concerning the evaluated subject.

Validation can evaluate:

Suitability for an intended useSatisfaction of stakeholder needsSatisfaction of operational objectivesSatisfaction of specified capabilitiesBehavior under defined conditionsInteroperabilityPerformanceReliabilitySecurityComplianceAnother defined validation purposeValidation can use:

InspectionAnalysisDemonstrationTestingModelingSimulationMeasurementObservationExpert evaluationA combination of evaluation methodsValidation can consider:

Applicable Validation CriteriaApplicable Acceptance CriteriaApplicable Test DefinitionsApplicable Test RunsApplicable Test ResultsApplicable VerdictsApplicable EvidenceApplicable BaselinesApplicable PoliciesApplicable Governance PoliciesApplicable exceptions and limitationsValidation should preserve Provenance and Traceability among the evaluated subject, validation purpose, Validation Criteria, evaluation activities, Evidence, and Validation Decision.

Definition

evaluation of an identified subject against defined Validation Criteria for a stated purpose

Source

Adapted from:

ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288:2023, Systems and software engineering — System life cycle processesISO/IEC 17029:2019, Conformity assessment — General principles and requirements for validation and verification bodiesValidation CriteriaValidation DecisionDIDO Reference Implementation Conceptual ModelDIDO-TE draft Requirements RegisterISO and systems-engineering usage associate Validation with evaluating suitability or satisfaction for an intended use or stated purpose.

This definition applies that purpose-oriented evaluation to DIDO-TE while separating the Validation activity from the resulting Validation Decision.

Note

Validation differs from a Validation Decision:

Validation is the evaluation activityA Validation Decision records the resulting determinationValidation differs from testing:

Testing performs defined test activities and produces Test ResultsValidation evaluates whether the available information supports satisfaction of the Validation Criteria for the stated purposeTesting can provide Evidence for Validation. Validation can also use inspection, analysis, demonstration, modeling, simulation, or expert evaluation.

Validation differs from verification:

Verification evaluates whether a subject satisfies specified requirementsValidation evaluates whether a subject satisfies Validation Criteria for a stated purpose or intended useThe same Test Results and Evidence can support both verification and Validation when the applicable criteria require them.

Validation does not establish universal validity. A positive Validation Decision applies only to:

The identified subjectThe stated validation purposeThe applicable Validation CriteriaThe applicable BaselineThe evaluated conditionsThe available EvidenceThe applicable effective periodThe recorded limitations and exceptionsA subject validated for one purpose, configuration, environment, or operational context is not necessarily validated for another.

Validation can produce a positive, negative, conditional, or inconclusive outcome. An authorized Actor records the authoritative outcome as a Validation Decision under the applicable Governance Policy.

Example

DIDO-TE performs Validation of a selected Node Set for use in a defined distributed transaction scenario.

The Validation:

Identifies the Node Set and its VersionsIdentifies the stated validation purposeSelects the applicable Validation CriteriaSelects the approved Test DefinitionsReviews the applicable Test RunsEvaluates the resulting Test Results and VerdictsReviews the supporting EvidenceAccounts for applicable limitations and exceptionsPreserves Provenance and TraceabilityAn authorized Evaluator uses the Validation output to make and record the applicable Validation Decision.

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