On the Role of Systems Research in Support of Requirements Engineering

One of the difficulties facing requirements engineers is the proliferation of radical solutions, i.e., solutions that have not yet become part of established practice. Compared with the normal solutions that have thus become established, radical solutions tend to make the requirements process more timeconsuming and risk-prone. This paper discusses the role of radical and normal solutions in systems development, and identifies the need for inputs from systems research in general. It points out that systems research leading to fresh radical solutions can compound the problem, whereas research into predictive models and refinements of solutions is likely to help. It proposes the use of pro forma abstracts as a means of highlighting the products of systems research in a way that makes their value more evident to the requirements engineer.