Achieving, Satisficing, and Excelling

Abstract. Definitions of the concepts derived from the goal concept (including functional and nonfunctional goal, hardgoal, and softgoal) used in requirements engineering are discussed, and precise (and, when appropriate, mathematical) definitions are suggested. The concept of satisficing, associated to softgoals is revisited. A softgoal is satisficed when thresholds of some precise criteria are reached. Satisficing does not cover situations in which continual improvement of thresholds is expected. The notion of excelling is suggested to cover such cases, along with the concept of disposition to represent and reason about excelling. 1 Outline One motive for representing and reasoning about a system is to precisely understand the purpose thereof and subsequently use this information to identify, analyze, and select among alternative properties and behaviors needed of the system ll its purpose. The goal concept stands out among the various abstractions proposed for the representation and...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2007
• Where: ER
• Authors: Ivan Jureta, Stéphane Faulkner, Pierre-Yves Schobbens
• Keywords: Database, ER 2007, Goal Concept, Nonfunctional Goal, Requirements Engineering