Modelling the Strategic Alignment of Software Requirements using Goal Graphs

This paper builds on existing Goal Oriented Requirements Engineering (GORE) research by presenting a methodology with a supporting tool for analysing and demonstrating the alignment between software requirements and business objectives. Current GORE methodologies can be used to relate business goals to software goals through goal abstraction in goal graphs. However, we argue that unless the extent of goal-goal contribution is quantified with verifiable metrics and confidence levels, goal graphs are not sufficient for demonstrating the strategic alignment of software requirements. We introduce our methodology using an example software project from Rolls-Royce. We conclude that our methodology can improve requirements by making the relationships to business problems explicit, thereby disambiguating a requirement's underlying purpose and value.Comment: v2 minor updates: 1) bitmap images replaced with vector, 2) reworded related work ref[6] for clarit

Responsibility modelling for civil emergency planning

This paper presents a new approach to analysing and understanding civil emergency planning based on the notion of responsibility modelling combined with HAZOPS-style analysis of information requirements. Our goal is to represent complex contingency plans so that they can be more readily understood, so that inconsistencies can be highlighted and vulnerabilities discovered. In this paper, we outline the framework for contingency planning in the United Kingdom and introduce the notion of responsibility models as a means of representing the key features of contingency plans. Using a case study of a flooding emergency, we illustrate our approach to responsibility modelling and suggest how it adds value to current textual contingency plans

Automated negotiation for service contracts

Automated negotiation draws upon research from a number of different computing disciplines, predominantly those of Game Theory, AI, Requirement specification & Authorisation research. Automated negotiation allows clients / services to come to agreements regarding service utilisation. A number of problems exist within the area, primarily those of requirement elicitation and trust. These problems can be minimised through standardisation and careful design; however, human participation in the process cannot be completely removed. This paper examines a possible format, architecture and implementation (TRANSACT) to aid in the automated negotiation of service contracts based on exogenously stated requirements / capabilities. In doing so it explores the issues and areas in which further developments are required to support future service developments

Requirement engineering education in the UK, an empirical study

The quality of software is critically dependent on the quality of Requirements Engineering activities undertaken during software development. This paper outlines a survey of Higher Education (HE) institutions in the UK undertaken to determine the nature of the topics covered relating to Requirement Engineering, and the extent to which such topics are practically taught and assessed. Very few surveys of Requirement Engineering within HE have been conducted, and, to the authors knowledge this will be the first significant one published which focussing on HE in the UK. The paper concludes that a number of key issues exist in the UK provision for teaching in this area, which impact on the ability of industry to leverage the skills gained by students whilst studying at university

The role of industry within an undergraduate module: a tale of unexpected surprises, cunning, and banana republics

The interaction of industry within undergraduate modules is generally fairly limited, with most interactions taking the form of case studies and guest lectures. This paper outlines how industry was integrated into student coursework on an undergraduate module within a Computer Science department. In doing so it provides insights into how such coursework could be designed, and explores many of the issues that need to be addressed in order to make such interactions a success

Automated negotiation for service contracts

Automated negotiation draws upon research from a number of different computing disciplines, predominantly those of Game Theory, AI, Requirement specification & Authorisation research. Automated negotiation allows clients / services to come to agreements regarding service utilisation. A number of problems exist within the area, primarily those of requirement elicitation and trust. These problems can be minimised through standardisation and careful design; however, human participation in the process cannot be completely removed. This paper examines a possible format, architecture and implementation (TRANSACT) to aid in the automated negotiation of service contracts based on exogenously stated requirements / capabilities. In doing so it explores the issues and areas in which further developments are required to support future service developments

Smart home: Devices, applications and their potential benefits and challenges

© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019. This study surveys a range of devices and applications based on information and computer technologies to automate their control houses and related activities which together form and are called Smart Home systems. The aim of this research is to explore examples of such devices and applications used to provide smart home technologies and their benefits and challenges to users. Interviews were administered to 18 users of Smart Home technologies. The participants were selected randomly by purposive sampling on the basis of having and using a smart home technology, and with the goal of ascertaining which type of the technologies are being used, their modus operandi, and their benefits and any implementation issues. This was complemented by exploring the systems through watching and observing online videos of people using them. The findings reveal a varied number of Smart Home systems being used for automating household operations. The primary reasons for using them are their efficiency and simplicity of operation in spite of being challenged by their high costs. In relative order, the greatest perceived benefits of a smart home system for the participants were convenience, energy savings, the security it can provide, and simplicity of control. The greatest challenges were cost, design aspects, technical challenges and lacking in meeting special user needs

Software sustainability from a user perspective: A case study of a developing country (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)

Interest in sustainable development is increasing. Understanding the user’s perspective toward software sustainability helps to enhance understanding of the concept. The need for developing countries to enhance their ICT infrastructure to align with United Nation (UN) sustainable development goals increases the necessity to understand the current perception of software users, industry and sustainability experts, to improve the level of software sustainability. Software sustainability has a number of challenges with regard to adoption by software users. This study investigates software sustainability from the point of view of users in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) by addressing four scales, namely beliefs, intention, attitude and perceptions toward using sustainable software. It also addresses key barriers to sustainable software, such as lack of awareness and difficulty of recognising sustainable software

Modelling and analysis of socio-technical system of systems

This paper proposes a novel approach to System of Systems modelling based on the specification of system capabilities. The approach is designed to help end users graphically identify and analyse the hazards and associated risks that can arise in complex socio-technical System of Systems, with particular emphasis on the role of system dependencies. Through a case study this paper shows how the technique can identify the vulnerabilities that may arise within a given System of System configuration; and explore the resilience of a given system when considering evolution and unexpected circumstances