Perceptions and Processes in Assessing Software Requirements Practices

Requirements engineering is a key discipline in analysis and design of business software. There are commonly accepted processes available for requirements engineering, but many organizations struggle to implement and follow these processes. A number of methods have therefore been developed to help assess and improve requirements practices. This exploratory study reports from a project at TelSoft in which we combined process assessments and stakeholder perceptions to arrive at recommendations for improving requirements practices. The paper presents the combined approach, experiences from using the approach at TelSoft, and the resulting insights and recommendations. On that basis, we offer a critical evaluation of the dominant process-driven approach and show how requirements assessment can benefit from the perceptions and active participation of key stakeholders.