## 3 Methodology
### Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA)  
FMEA implementation goes through a series of processes that involve the development of an FMEA data-gathering template. The template includes tables that show information gathered based on individual alternatives considered. Where to enter data, guidelines on the type of data to be entered, and when those data are collated. Below are pictures and descriptions of each FMEA file. The FMEA technique accesses applications based on the three risk criteria known as risk factors severity, occurrence, and detection. A heuristic scale is used to estimate the values of each risk factor. The scales are ranked from 1-10. This ranking is based on the effect of failure modes, which are further categorized into minor, moderate, and hazardous effects. From Table 3, the sections are further categorized with colors: red for hazardous effects (ranking: 7-10), yellow for moderate effects (3-6), and green for minor effects (1-2). 1. Occurrence: This is the probability of occurrence, which is the likely number of times the failure is bound to take place. Its ranking is from 1 to 10. From unlikely chance of occurrence through occasional failures to almost inevitable probability of failure. From Table 3, the scale categorizes risk and estimates a value for different ranges or categories of risk from increasing to decreasing order. 2. Detection: This relates to how well a system can recognize abnormality in its functionality. Assuming a failure occurs, a system able to assess its capabilities to prevent failure mode is called detection. It helps rank the level at which failures can be detected. This is sub-categorized into most certain to be detected, moderate level of detection, and failure is almost uncertain to be detected. It is similar to both occurrence and severity in ranking, as it ranks from 1 to 10. 3. Severity: This can be defined as the extent to which the consequences of failure on a software affect the internal and external functionality occurring during and after failure. The sub-category is sectioned into failures that are 'hazardous in the absence of warning, hazardous with warning, moderate and minor severity in terms of damage. It ranks from 1 to 10. The risk priority number is the multiplication of these three risk factors: severity, probability of occurrence, and detectability. \[\text{Risk Priority Number (RPN) = Severity \times Occurrence \times Detection} \tag{12}\]  
In the detection of potential failures of the software functionality, for example, the sub-categories of the functionality tab are considered, and the mobile learning platform is compared against the sub-characteristics to ascertain the potential failures associated with the functionality. The following questions were asked:  
* Suitability: Does the software perform its required tasks? * Accuracy: Does the result produced conform to the expectation? * Interoperability: Can the system relate or interact with a similar system? * Security: Is the software able to restrict unauthorized access? With respect to the above questions, if the software is found to have any shortcomings, the expert is then able to identify if the software has potential failures associated with the functional characteristics in question via the sub-characteristics. Table 4 explains the types of questions experts use in the evaluation and estimation process for each criterion. This process is the source of the input for the system, and the estimations are approximated in Table 3. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c} \hline
**Probability of Failure** & **Failure Probability** & **Ranking** \\ \hline Very High: Failure is almost Certain & \textgreater{}1/2 & 10 \\  & 1/3 & 9 \\ High: Repeats failures & 1/8 & 8 \\  & 1/20 & 7 \\ Moderate: Failures are Occasional & 1/80 & 6 \\  & 1/400 & 5 \\  & 1/2000 & 4 \\ Low: Rare failures & 1/15,000 & 3 \\  & 1/150,000 & 2 \\ Remote: low chance of failure & \textless{}1/1,500,000 & 1 \\ \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 3: Ranking for probability of occurrence/detection/severity.