def METHOD_NAME(self, state):
    """Convert string state to HardwareObjectState enum value.
    Args:
        state (str): the state
    Returns:
        (enum 'HardwareObjectState'): state
    """
    try:
        return self.SPECIFIC_STATES.__members__[state.upper()].value
    except (AttributeError, KeyError):
        return self.STATES.UNKNOWN