Process Evaluation in Requirements Engineering
PERE
|
|
Introduction
The development process for any system will involve several people along the way
from early requirements elicitation through specification and on to
implementation, operation and maintenance. Whilst it is people who ultimately
ensure that processes operate as desired, they are also prone to making certain
errors in the course of their work as individuals or groups, in a variety of
organisational contexts. The causes of many of these errors are well understood,
and it is possible to put in place protection against them such that they can be
reduced or removed altogether. This REAIMS module aims to highlight weaknesses in
processes that are due to human factors in particular, and recommend process
improvements based upon this analysis.
Summary description
The PERE module consists primarily of two interlocking techniques for the
analysis of the requirements engineering process from two different viewpoints.
- A systematic approach to understanding processes, and
- A human factors analysis of the process
PERE can be tailored to suit a variety of organisational goals, depending on
which aspect of the process requires attention. Existing process documentation
can be used as input to the analysis, and this is supplemented by the end of PERE
analysis with an up-to-date model of the process as it is followed. PERE builds
up this process model through an iterative process of identifying components and
analysing them for weaknesses. The result of the analysis is a list of process
weaknesses classified according to their source, along with suggested protections
that can be put in place against them.
The module includes: proformas of the various forms that are used during
analysis; example applications to assist in understanding the techniques;
guidance on PERE's relationship with other techniques; as well as instructions
for specialising the method for use in various contexts.
Benefits and application areas
Used as part of a general process improvement strategy, PERE will benefit an
organisation by providing accurate and up-to-date documentation of the process
under examination. This is supplemented with an analysis of the human factors
aspects of the process, identification of any weaknesses to error that may exist,
and recommendations for possible protections to be implemented.
PERE can be applied to any process in any organisation where the successful
completion of the process is largely due to the coordination of individual and
cooperative work. Whilst developed with the requirements engineering process
particularly in mind, it is equally applicable to processes at other stages in
the system lifecycle. It is especially appropriate for organisations involved in
the development of safety-critical and other dependable systems, where it is
important that the development process does not introduce repeated errors to the
products being designed and delivered.
How to apply
PERE can be applied directly in organisations with existing process
documentation. If such documentation is not available, then it is necessary to
generate it with reference to the process capture guidance contained within PERE.
It is also possible to perform this step in order to confirm the accuracy of
current process documentation.
More information available from:
|
| Robin Bloomfield
Adelard
3, Coborn Road
London E3 2DA
United Kingdom
|
Phone: +44-181 983 0217
FAX: +44-181 983 1845
email: reb@adelard.co.uk
|
|
François Bustany
Steria-Digilog 5
21, Rue Frederic Joliot
F-13791 Aix en Provence
France
|
Phone: +33-4216 8600
FAX: +33-4216 8686
|
|
| Herbert Schippers
TÜV Informationstechnik GmbH
Im Teelbruch 122
D - 45219 Essen
Germany
|
Phone: +49 201 825 5120
FAX: +49 201 825 5131
email: H.Schippers@tuvit.cubis.de
|
|
| Prof. Ian Sommerville
Computing Department
Lancaster University
Lancaster LA1 4YR
United Kingdom
|
Phone: +44-1524-593795
FAX: +44-1524-593608
email: is@comp.lancs.ac.uk
|
Page last updated Thu, 18 December 1997. Please report problems to
reaims-request@comp.lancs.ac.uk
|
CSEG Projects |
|
Computing Department |
Lancaster University