1. Technische Universität München
Artefact-based Requirements
Engineering Improvement
Learning to Walk in Practice
Daniel Méndez
Technische Universität München
Germany
12.12.2014
@mendezfe

2. RE improvement: Terms and principles
Socio-economic context
RE “Best Practice” Norm
Goals,
expectations,
…
1. Solution orientation
2
2. Problem orientation
Paradigms (simplified)
A. Activity orientation
A
B
B. Artefact orientation
Serves as
Orientation
Steer
Assess/Benchmark
Adopt RE reference model
RE improvement principles

3. Problem-driven, artefact-based RE improvement
Why?
Why problem orientation
Problem
expectations,
Potential and limitations of problem-driven, artefact-based RE improvement still unknown
Goals,
3
… Steer
» Notion of RE quality is something relative to context
» Reluctance against solution orientation in practice*
„I am not convinced of the benefits of external standards .“
Why artefact orientation
» Supports, e.g., flexibility and consistent project results
* http://re-survey.org

4. 2013
4
Context Layer
Constraints
& Rules
!
!
!
!
!
Project Scope
Stakeholder Model Objectives
Requirements Layer
System Vision
Service Model Usage Model
Functional
Hierarchy
System Constraints
System Layer
& Goals
Business Cases
Data Model
E
A
A
A
E
Architecture Overview
System
Domain Model
Quality Requirements
Function Model
Fun 1
Fun 2
Component Model
C C
Glossary
Process Requirements
Risk List
Glossary
Data Model
Deployment Requirements
E
A
A
A
E
Behaviour Model
Glossary
• Analysis of academic research projects
2011
» Systematic mapping study [ESEM 14]
N/A
Normative Problem-Driven
Artefact
Orientation
Activity
Orientation
» Emp. guideline for RE analyses [EASE 12]
» Artefact-based RE approach [RE 14]
Where are we?
…
• Development and test
of different artefact-based
RE approaches
• Integration of concepts
» Approach to artefact-based
RE improvement (ArtREPI)
[PROFES 13]

5. Artefact-based RE Improvement (ArtREPI)
5
Interested in details? See our paper at PROFES 2013… :-)
• Blueprint of an artefact-b. and problem-driven RE improvement
• Process realisation in EPF composer, templates, …

6. 2013
6
• Integration of concepts
» Approach to artefact-based
RE improvement (ArtREPI)
[PROFES 13]
Context Layer
Constraints
& Rules
!
!
!
!
!
Project Scope
Stakeholder Model Objectives
Requirements Layer
System Vision
Service Model Usage Model
Functional
Hierarchy
System Constraints
System Layer
& Goals
Business Cases
Data Model
E
A
A
A
E
Architecture Overview
System
Domain Model
Quality Requirements
Function Model
Fun 1
Fun 2
Component Model
C C
Glossary
Process Requirements
Risk List
Glossary
Data Model
Deployment Requirements
E
A
A
A
E
Behaviour Model
Glossary
• Analysis of academic research projects
…
2011
• Development and test
of different artefact-based
RE approaches
» Systematic mapping study [ESEM 14]
N/A
Normative Problem-Driven
Artefact
Orientation
Activity
Orientation
» Emp. guideline for RE analyses [EASE 12]
» Artefact-based RE approach [RE 14]
Where are we?
• Empirical
evaluation

7. Evaluation (so far)
7
Interested in details?
See PROFES 2014… REFSQ 2015 (?) :-)
Two case studies
• Wacker: heavy-weight RE
• SupplyOn: agile RE (conducted independently)
The good: It works
• Structured approach to RE improvement
• Context-specific RE impr. goals achieved
The bad: It works, somehow…
• First “soft” factors important to an
improvement revealed
• Domain knowledge
• Social / political factors
» Subjective facets need more attention
The ugly: Limited measurability
• Long-term measurements of success?
» We need better understanding of variables
The interesting parts!

8. We are here...
2013
8
• Integration of concepts
» Approach to artefact-based
RE improvement (ArtREPI)
[PROFES 13]
Context Layer
Constraints
& Rules
!
!
!
!
!
Project Scope
Stakeholder Model Objectives
Requirements Layer
System Vision
Service Model Usage Model
Functional
Hierarchy
System Constraints
System Layer
& Goals
Business Cases
Data Model
E
A
A
A
E
Architecture Overview
System
Domain Model
Quality Requirements
Function Model
Fun 1
Fun 2
Component Model
C C
Glossary
Process Requirements
Risk List
Glossary
Data Model
Deployment Requirements
E
A
A
A
E
Behaviour Model
Glossary
• Analysis of academic research projects
…
2011
• Development and test
of different artefact-based
RE approaches
» Systematic mapping study [ESEM 14]
N/A
Normative Problem-Driven
Artefact
Orientation
Activity
Orientation
» Emp. guideline for RE analyses [EASE 12]
» Artefact-based RE approach [RE 14]
Where are we?
?
• Empirical
evaluation
Data disclosure
• Models, templates, process realisation
• Evaluation instruments, data…
http://www4.in.tum.de/~mendezfe/openspace.shtml

9. 9
Needs in future research
What we have
– Models, templates, process realisation, …
– Evaluation instruments and raw data
– (Project data)
Thank you!
http://www4.in.tum.de/~mendezfe/openspace.shtml
» Increase our understanding of improvement facets we barely can control (yet)
• Subjective (also social) facets important to an improvement
• Long-term effects of an improvement