Bow Tie Analysis
Bow Tie Analysis is a risk assessment and management methodology used to visually map out the causes, preventive controls, and consequences of a potential hazardous event, along with recovery measures. It creates a diagram shaped like a bow tie, with the central 'knot' representing the event, left side showing threats and barriers, and right side showing consequences and mitigation controls. This approach helps organizations systematically identify and manage risks in complex systems, such as in safety-critical industries like oil and gas, aviation, and healthcare.
Developers should learn Bow Tie Analysis when working on safety-critical software, risk management systems, or projects requiring compliance with safety standards (e.g., ISO 31000, functional safety standards like IEC 61508). It is particularly useful for identifying vulnerabilities in system design, implementing preventive measures in code, and creating robust incident response plans, such as in DevOps for disaster recovery or in IoT applications handling hazardous operations.