Assessing Requirements Process Strengths and Weaknesses: A first step to prioritising requirements process implementation
Sarah Beecham, Tracy Hall, Austen Rainer · University of Hertfordshire Research Archive (University of Hertfordshire) · 2003
We have created a software process improvement model that focuses on the requirements phase of software development.Our model takes the maturity characteristics from the SEI's Software Capability Maturity Model (SW-CMM) to help guide practitioners in their requirements activities.However, a lthough our R E CMM (R-CMM) compliments the SW-CMM, we consider that an independent self -contained method for assessing requirements strengths and weaknesses is essential.The report combines a rationale for using an independent assessment method together with an implementation guide.This specialised assessment is designed to raise the profile of requirements within the software development quagmire.The assessment method will highlight where requirements need help in both their organisational and technical processes.The approach we propose is adapted from a tried and tested assessment method developed by a high maturity company (Daskalantonakis 1994).In this report we explain how the assessment method can be tailored to meet individual company needs through a detailed example.The transparency offered by the assessment will help to empower practitioners to influence the state of the requirements process.Once software process improvement managers have a clear idea of the practices involved in requirements engineering they will be better placed to set realistic goals for their improvement.This Technical Report forms part of a wider study that explains the many stages involved in building a specialised software improvement model that focuses on the requirements process.