Principles for requirements processes at the dawn of the 21st century

Requirements have remained one of the grand challenges in the design and development of information systems. In this paper, we review the main strands of requirements research over the past two decades and identify the central assumptions that form the prevailing paradigm of requirements processes. Based on a field study with interviews of over 30 leading IT professionals involved in large and complex software design and implementation initiatives, we analyze these research assumptions and the practical prescriptions that flow from them in light of the current state-of-the-art in requirements practice. We observe significant progress toward adherence to research prescriptions in several areas, including the deployment of modeling methods, the application of CASE tools, the adoption of risk-driven design, and an emphasis on user involvement in requirements efforts. Yet significant gaps between research and practice persist. In addition to the assessment of current practice, we note nine emerging themes and drivers in the practice of requirements management: 1) business process focus, 2) systems transparency, 3) integration focus, 4) distributed requirements, 5) layering of requirements, 6) criticality of information architectures, 7) increased deployment of COTS and software components, 8) fluidity of design, and 9) rising interdependent complexity. Several research challenges and new avenues for research are noted with respect to the discovery, specification, and validation of requirements in light of these emergent issues.