Requirements Engineering (Applied Computing)

This book has two audiences: the practising Requirements Engineer and the advanced student of software engineering or computer science. The book is unique because it introduces latest research results and, at the same time, presents highly practical and useful techniques. This book is complementary to texts on software requirements and system Requirements Engineering because of its focus on the problems caused by the fact that Requirements Engineering involves people. Throughout this book the author has sought to introduce the reader to a number of techniques which have not previously been included within mainstream computer science literature. The techniques chosen have been shown to work in practice in both commercial and research pro­ jects. The appendices contain step-by-step guides to particular tech­ niques; sufficient detail is provided for readers to try the techniques for themselves. The problem faced by the Requirements Engineer is complex, it con­ cerns meeting the needs of the customer and at the same time meeting the needs of the designer. Within systems development the correct capture of user requirements plays a central role in the construction of effective and flexible systems. Requirements Engineering as a discipline is relatively new, but is increasingly being taught to undergraduates in order to help students to better understand the needs of industry and commerce in the development of effective systems. The author introduces the major concepts and underlying rationale behind requirements engineering, providing a background against which topics such as human and organisational factors and technical and hardware issues are discussed. Written to appeal directly to students, each chapter has clear objectives and contains exercises, practical guides, and case studies all drawn from relevant and topical industrial and commercial research and development projects Front Matter....Pages i-xiii Introduction....Pages 1-21 The Role of Requirements Engineering Techniques....Pages 23-55 Specific Techniques 1: Organisational Requirements....Pages 57-82 Specific Techniques 2: Group Session Approaches....Pages 83-111 Specific Techniques 3: Interactive Approaches....Pages 113-126 Requirements and the Customer-Supplier Relationship....Pages 127-144 Back Matter....Pages 145-202 The author introduces the major concepts and underlying rationale behind requirements engineering, providing a background against which topics such as human and organizational factors, and technical and hardware issues are discussed. Practical guides and case studies are included