## 4 The Proposed Method  
### Proposal for a Framework (FRIDA)  
This chapter presents an innovative framework, named FRIDA, designed to integrate Requirements Engineering (RE) practices and DevOps methodologies into the development of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) systems, with a particular emphasis on optimizing human-computer interaction (HCI). The objective of this model is to enhance operational efficiency, streamline automation development processes, and improve user experience by creating more intuitive and responsive systems. FRIDA--the Framework for Requirements Engineering and DevOps Integration in Automation--provides a structured yet flexible approach, adhering to a set of well-defined principles to ensure the successful integration of RE, DevOps, and RPA technologies throughout the automation lifecycle. By combining Requirements Engineering with DevOps practices, the purpose of FRIDA is to optimize the creation and maintenance of automation systems, fostering solutions that are robust and aligned with business needs. This integration seeks not only to execute automated processes efficiently but also to ensure that automation remains continuous, adaptable, and capable of evolving in response to organizational changes. The model encompasses the entire RPA lifecycle, from initial analysis to ongoing post-deployment support, promoting an integrated and sustainable approach to automation. The following sections detail the phases of the RPA lifecycle, incorporating the relevant Requirements Engineering criteria and DevOps practices that guide each stage. For the proposed framework, key phases of the RPA lifecycle are identified. These phases are critical for ensuring project success and are outlined as follows [34]:  
* Analysis: At this stage, the focus is on understanding the process that will be automated. The RPA team analyzes the current workflow, identifies repetitive, manual, and time-consuming tasks, and assesses the feasibility of automation. It is important to determine whether the process is stable, well documented, and suitable for RPA. \(\bigcirc\) Objective: identify processes that are candidates for automation and ensure that automation will bring value to the business. \(\bigcirc\) Results: list of priority processes for automation and a clear vision of the expected benefits. * Requirement gathering: Here, the team details the requirements of the process that will be automated. This includes understanding the business rules, the systems involved, the exceptions that can occur, and the expected results. Collaboration with end-users and stakeholders is crucial to ensure all aspects of the process are considered. \(\bigcirc\) Objective: clearly define what the robot should do and how it should behave in different scenarios. \(\bigcirc\) Results: document functional and non-functional requirements, which will serve as a basis for development. * Design-project development: In this phase, the RPA team creates the automation design, including the robot workflow, decision logic, and integration with existing systems. RPA tools are used to develop the robot, following best programming and automation practices. \(\bigcirc\) Objective: build a functional robot that meets the defined requirements. \(\bigcirc\) Results: a prototype or initial version of the robot, ready for testing. * Testing phase: The developed robot is tested in a controlled environment to ensure that it works as expected. This includes unit tests (for each part of the robot), integration tests (to verify interaction with other systems), and acceptance tests (to validate with end-users). \(\bigcirc\) Objective: identify and correct errors before deployment into production. \(\bigcirc\) Results: robot validated and approved for implementation. * Deployment and hypercare: After testing, the robot is deployed in the production environment. The hypercare phase is a period of intensive monitoring right after deployment, where the RPA team keeps an eye out for any issues or necessary adjustments.