Modelling Assumptions and Requirements in the Context of Project Risk

The importance of assumptions in Requirements Engineering has long been recognised. However, to the best of our knowledge, no quantitative models for the relation between assumptions and requirements are yet available. We propose a temporal, mathematical, model of the relationship between assumptions and requirements in the context of predicting risk associated with assumptions failure in a software project. This model incorporates two sources of structure. One, the inter-relation between assumptions and requirements are described using a Boolean network. Two, the invalidity of assumptions, and the requirements change, it is assumed, may be modelled as a stochastic process. The paper gives an illustrative example of how the model can be used to assess project risk.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2005
• Where: RE
• Authors: Andriy V. Miranskyy, Nazim H. Madhavji, Matthew Davison, Mark Reesor
• Keywords: Assumptions Failure, RE 2005, Requirements, Requirements Engineering, Software Engineering