A road map model towards unified software requirements engineering process management: System dynamics approach

Abstract

The Success of software projects heavily and critically depends on the effectiveness of Requirements Engineering (RE) and the Requirements Engineering Process Improvement (REPI). This research study adopts and applies System Thinking/System Dynamics (SD) approach to the complex and dynamic REPI process. The research paper presents a unified model for improving quality software and delivery. Review of the state-the-art practice in RE and REPI literature indicates six categories of problem that motivated the research work reported in this paper. Poor RE and REPI processes make projects to fall behind schedule, encounter budget over-shoots and poor software specification and development. The research study seeks to understand these problems from a feedback control point of view due to lack of quantitative data and agreement on the nature of deficiencies in the current RE and REPI processes. The model developed therefore not seen to be an answer to the existing RE and REPI problems, but as an aid tool for research, researchers and RE stakeholders to advance a deeper understanding needed to answer them. The study identifies several strategies for performing REPI research from empirical to paradigm shift and isolates hot areas of research that address RE and REPI needs for effective software product delivery. Development of the model contributes to research by providing foundation for theory building on RE and RE improvement management of software projects in learning institutions, RE, REPI and software stakeholders.