Requirements Engineering Overview

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Questions and Answers

What do user requirements specifically describe?

The services the system should provide (correct)

System performance and reliability standards

Detailed information about system functions

Operational constraints for implementation

Which of the following best defines non-functional requirements?

Descriptions of services and responses to inputs

Statements detailing specific actions of the system

Constraints that apply to services or functions of the system (correct)

Requirements that focus on user interface design

Which characteristic ensures that requirements can be measured and tested?

Consistent

Realistic

Verifiable (correct)

Traceable

What is the primary goal of the feasibility study in requirements engineering?

To determine if the proposed system is achievable Signup and view all the answers

Why might different stakeholders have conflicting requirements?

They express requirements in their own terms Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not a characteristic of effective requirements?

Ambiguous Signup and view all the answers

What can influence the requirements during the analysis process?

Organizational and political factors Signup and view all the answers

Which activity is a part of the requirements engineering process?

Requirements validation Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of throwaway prototyping?

To build a working model that helps users visualize requirements. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a classic elicitation technique?

Prototyping Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of high-fidelity prototypes?

They usually depict the user interface in a dynamic format. Signup and view all the answers

Which technique involves simulating computer behavior by a person?

Wizard of Oz Signup and view all the answers

What is one advantage of using prototypes in system development?

They improve communication between customers and developers. Signup and view all the answers

What might be a disadvantage of using prototyping?

It can lead to developers becoming too attached to their prototypes. Signup and view all the answers

Evolutionary prototyping seeks to achieve which of the following?

Constant refinement of the prototype over time. Signup and view all the answers

During which phase of development is prototyping most likely to be utilized to validate specifications?

Middle stages. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of prototype is NOT typically interactive?

Mockup Signup and view all the answers

What can a working or functional prototype demonstrate effectively?

Interaction issues and design progress. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary disadvantage of using natural language for user requirements?

Ambiguity leading to different interpretations Signup and view all the answers

What does the Software Requirements Specification (SRS) represent?

What the system should do Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a part of requirements validation?

Cost assessment Signup and view all the answers

What is the focus of requirements management planning?

Identifying changes and their impacts Signup and view all the answers

What do graphical models in requirements specification primarily help to represent?

Business processes and system interactions Signup and view all the answers

What type of viewpoint focuses on the domain characteristics that influence requirements?

Domain viewpoint Signup and view all the answers

Which component is a part of form-based specification?

Description of outputs and their destinations Signup and view all the answers

What does requirements elicitation aim to produce?

Statement of need and feasibility Signup and view all the answers

Which validation technique can help identify inconsistencies and omissions in requirements?

Prototyping Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect is emphasized by the requirements traceability policies?

Connection between requirements and their sources Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the key reasons requirements tend to be incomplete or inconsistent?

Business environment changes Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about scenarios in requirements gathering is true?

They describe real-life usage examples of the system. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a benefit of using structured language in requirements specification?

Reduction of ambiguity Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of using prototypes in requirements elicitation?

To clarify and better define requirements Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Requirements

User requirements describe the system’s expected services and operating constraints from a user perspective
System requirements provide detailed information on the system's functionalities, services, and operational constraints to be implemented
Functional requirements outline services, system reactions to specific input, and system behavior in specific situations
Non-functional requirements impose constraints (timing, performance, reliability, development process, standards) on the system's services or functions

Requirements Characteristics

Requirements should be unambiguous, complete, consistent with company goals and other requirements, traceable, realistic, verifiable, and valid

Requirements Engineering Activities

Activities include feasibility study, requirements elicitation and analysis, requirements specification, and requirements validation

Problems with Requirements Elicitation and Analysis

Stakeholders may not know what they want, express requirements in their own terms, have conflicting requirements, or be influenced by organizational and political factors
Requirements can change during the analysis process

Requirements Elicitation and Analysis Activities

Activities include discovery, classification and organization, prioritization and negotiation, and documentation

Classic Elicitation Techniques

Techniques include interviews, research, questionnaires, observation, forms analysis, and prototyping

Prototyping

A prototype is a model of a system's appearance or behavior, often depicting the user interface
Prototype fidelity can range from low fidelity (paper) to high fidelity (GUI)

When to Use Prototyping

Before, during, or after the development process to achieve different objectives, such as gathering initial requirements or validating system specifications

Prototyping Types

Paper prototyping involves drawings and cutouts to elicit UI content and organization
"Wizard of Oz" prototyping simulates computer behavior and explores interactivity
Mockups are non-functional user interfaces using GUI components to validate UI design
Working/Functional prototypes have functional GUI components to validate design and explore interaction issues

Prototyping Techniques

Throwaway prototyping creates a simple working model to demonstrate requirements and facilitate accurate specification
Evolutionary prototyping builds a robust prototype in a structured manner, constantly refining it through functional prototypes

Advantages of Prototyping

Reduces development time and cost, builds customer confidence, energizes communication, facilitates implementation, improves user satisfaction, exposes developers to enhancements

Disadvantages of Prototyping

Can focus on aesthetics rather than functionality, create a false impression of ease of development, lead to developers becoming too attached to prototypes, or result in a prototype being prematurely put into production

Other Discovery Approaches

Viewpoints structure requirements to represent different stakeholder perspectives
Scenarios are real-life examples of system usage, including starting situations, flow of events, potential problems, concurrent activities, and ending states
Use cases are a type of scenario

Work Products after Requirements Elicitation

Outputs include a statement of need and feasibility, a defined scope, a list of stakeholders, a description of the technical environment, organized lists of requirements, and developed prototypes

Requirements Specification

User requirements are typically expressed in natural language, which can be ambiguous, overly flexible, and lack modularity
System requirements are better represented with specialized notation such as graphical models, tables, and structured language

Requirements Specification (Form-Based)

Form-based specifications include the function or entity definition, input and output descriptions, dependencies, pre- and post-conditions, and side effects

Analysis Models

Graphical representations (context models, data-flow models, state-machine models, data models, object models) bridge the gap between analysis and design

Software Requirements Specification (SRS)

The SRS is the official statement of system requirements, focusing on WHAT the system should do, not HOW it should be done

IEEE Requirements Standard

Defines a generic structure for a requirements document, including introduction, general description, specific requirements, appendices, and an index

Requirements Validation

Assesses the quality of requirements by checking them against characteristics, determining if they meet customer needs
Techniques include specification reviews, prototyping, and test case generation

Requirements Management

The process of identifying, understanding, tracking, and controlling changes to system requirements
Requirements are inevitably incomplete and inconsistent, requiring change management, traceability policies, and CASE tool support

Requirements Management Planning

Includes requirements identification, change management process, traceability policies (source, dependency, features, or design), and CASE tool support

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Description

This quiz covers the fundamental aspects of requirements engineering, including user and system requirements, functional and non-functional requirements. It also addresses the characteristics of effective requirements and the activities involved in the requirements engineering process. Gain insights into the typical challenges faced during requirements elicitation and analysis.