Requirements

Aims

Many software and hardware development projects go through a phase called 'Requirements Capture and Analysis' which tries to determine the properties a system should have in order to succeed in the environment in which it will be used. This can be a very difficult task, and typical requirements documents contain errors, some of which are very difficult to detect, as well as very expensive to correct later on. Experience shows that many errors arise from social, political and cultural factors and recent research has focused on the problem of reconciling such factors with traditional concerns about the more technical aspects of system development.

This course takes a unique stance to the discussion of requirements in that it acknowledges the involvement of both the social and technical concerns. The course surveys a wide range of different approaches to the problem of determining requirements and aims to provide students with a set of techniques and skills that may be tailored to address a wide range of requirements problems.

The programme of study starts by considering traditional software engineering approaches to requirements engineering, more modern techniques including the use of UML and Use Cases, and progresses through a range of approaches, including ones which consider both technical and social concerns. Practical guidance is also included. Current methods for requirements capture often make implicit assumptions about the nature of social life and conduct and these will be discussed on the course and alternatives presented. The course itself has been designed to challenge many existing conceptions of the design process and there will be plenty of time to discuss the critical issues.

Course presentation combines lectures, classes and student presentations of pre-study exercise. The course is illustrated with a number of case studies, and students are encouraged to select appropriate methods, tools and techniques to address the issues raised by case studies.

The course is designed to enable participants to:

• Appreciate how requirements fit into the overall software development lifecycle.
• Be aware of a variety of methods tools and techniques for requirements capture and analysis.
• Become aware of some of the typical issues and problems facing practical requirements engineering.
• Identify methods tools and techniques for understanding user, work practice and organisational requirements.

At the end of the course the student will have a breadth of knowledge about the range of requirements methods, tools, and techniques. They will gain an appreciation of at least two methods, and obtain practical guidance on elicitation techniques.

Classes

There are 4 classes and individual student presentations of a pre-study exercise. The classes consist of exercises and discussion related to case studies, Course participants must contribute to both.

Assessment

The material from the lectures and classes will be assessed by a take-home assignment consisting of a report based on a case study. Individual student class presentation of pre-study material contributes to the assessment.