[go: up one dir, main page]
More Web Proxy on the site http://driver.im/
Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Requirements Volatility in Multicultural Situational Contexts

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Systems, Software and Services Process Improvement (EuroSPI 2022)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 1646))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

Requirements’ volatility refers to additions, deletions, and modifications of requirements during the system development life cycle. Different approaches in software development, including Agile and DevOps, have addressed requirements volatility by increased user participation throughout the whole development process.

In this paper we analyse requirements volatility from a situational context angle with the aim to increase understanding of the role of culture and cultural diversity in a multicultural requirements elicitation process. Research on situational context in Requirements Engineering (RE) is rather limited, despite the recognized importance of RE and requirements elicitation for improving the quality of the final system and software product.

This paper builds on an extensive literature review demonstrating the importance of raising awareness and understanding of the role of culture and cultural diversity for requirements volatility, as one of the most significant situational factors in the requirements elicitation process, with the aim to improve the whole systems development process as well as the resulting products and services.

The paper concludes with the presentation of the Requirements Cultural Volatility Framework which aims to reveal potential conflicts that may occur in requirements elicitation on a multiplicity of cultural dimensions, The framework proposes actions to be taken in order to address the conflicts and point out expected benefits on each dimension.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
£29.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
GBP 19.95
Price includes VAT (United Kingdom)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
GBP 87.50
Price includes VAT (United Kingdom)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
GBP 109.99
Price includes VAT (United Kingdom)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. 1.

    http://www.uva.fi/materiaali/pdf/isbn_978-952-476-375-2.pdf.

  2. 2.

    https://conference.eurospi.net/index.php/en/manifesto.

References

  1. Al Mamun, M.A., Hansson, J.: Review and Challenges of Assumptions in Software Development, 2nd Analytic Virtual Integration of Cyber-Physical Systems Workshop (AVICPS). Austria, Vienna (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Ali, N., Lai, R.: Managing requirements change in global software development, . In: Proccendings of the 2014 International Conference on Data and Software Engineering, Indonesia (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Ali, N., Lai, R.: Requirements engineering in global software development: a survey study from the perspectives of stakeholders. J. Softw. 13(10), 520–532 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Alsanoosy, T., Spichkova, M., Harland, J.: Cultural influence on requirements engineering activities: a systematic literature review and analysis. Requirements Eng. 25(3), 339–362 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00766-019-00326-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Benguria, G., Alonso, J., Etxaniz, I., Orue-Echevarria, L., Escalante, M.: Agile development and operation of complex systems in multi-technology and multi-company environments: following a DevOps approach Systems Software and Service Process Improvement, pp. 15–27 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Chakraborty, S., Sarker, S., Sarker, S.: An exploration into the requirements elicitation: a grounded approach. J. Assoc. Inf. Syst. 11(4), 212–249 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Christel, M.G., Kang, K.C.: Issues in Requirements Elicitation, Technical Report, CMU/SEI-92-TR-012, ESC-TR-92-012. Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US (1992)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  8. Clarke, P., O’Connor, R.V.: The situational factors that affect the software development process: towards a comprehensive reference framework. J. Inf. Softw. Technol. 54(5), 433–447 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Conchuir, E.O., Holmström, H., Ågerfalk, P.J., Fitzgerald, B.: Exploring the assumed benefits of global software development. In: 1st Int. Conference on Global Software Journal of Software, vol. 531(13), pp. 159–168 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Damian, D.: Stakeholders in global requirements engineering: Lessons learned from practice. IEEE Softw. 24(2), 21–27 (2007)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  11. Dasanayake, S., Aaramaa, S., Markkula, J., Oivo, M.: Impact of requirements volatility on software architecture: How do software teams keep up with ever-changing requirements? J. Softw. Evol. Process (2019). https://doi.org/10.1002/smr.2160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Dede, B., Lioufko, I. . Situational Factors Affecting Software Development Process Selection, MSc Thesis, Goetenborg University Sweden (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Dev, H., Awasthi, H.: A systematic study of requirement volatility during software development process. Int. J. Comput. Sci. Issues 9(2), 528–533 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Ebert, C., Gallardo, G., Hernantes, J.: Serrano, pp. 94–100. N. DevOps, IEEE Softw. (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Elwahab, K.A., Latif, M.A.E., Kholeif, S.: Identify and manage the software requirements volatility: proposed framework and case study. Int. J. Adv. Comput. Sci. Appl. 7(5), 64–71 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Georgiadou, E., Siakas, K., Balstrup, B. The I5P Visualisation Framework for Performance Estimation through the Alignment of Process Maturity and Knowledge Sharing, IJHCITP, vol. 2, No. 2 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Grunbacher, P., Braunsberger, P.: Tool support for distributed requirements negotiation: lessons learned. In: Cooperative Methods and Tools for Distributed Software Processes. IEEE, pp. 46–55 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Grunbacher, P., Halling, M., Biffl, S., Kitapci, H., Boehm, B.W.: Integrating collaborative processes and quality assurance techniques: experience from requirements negotiation. J. Manage. Inf. Syst. 20(4), 9–29 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Herbsleb, J.D., Moitra, D.: Global software development. IEEE Softw. 18(2), 16–20 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Herbsleb, J.D., Mockus, A.: An empirical study of speed and communication in globally distributed software development. IEEE Trans. Softw. Eng. 29(3) (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Hildebrand, T., Geisser, M., Kude, T., Bruch, D., Acker, T.: Agile methodologies for distributed collaborative development of enterprise applications. In: International Conference on Complex, Intelligent and Software Intensive Systems, pp. 540–545. IEEE Comp. Soc. (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Hofstede, G.: Culture's Consequences: Comparing Values, Behaviours, Institutions, and Organisations, 2nd edn. Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Hofstede, G., Hofstede, G.J., Minkov, M.: Cultures and Organisations - Software of the Mind: Intercultural Cooperation and its Importance for Survival. McGraw-Hill (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Hofstede, G.: Dimensionalizing Cultures: The Hofstede Model in Context. Online Readings in Psychology and Culture, vol. 2(1) (2001). https://doi.org/10.9707/2307-0919.1014

  25. Hsieh, Y.: Culture and shared understanding in distributed requirements engineering. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Global Software Engineering, Brazil (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Jabbari, R., bin Ali, N., Petersen, K., Tanveer, B.: What is DevOps? a systematic mapping study on definitions and practices. In: XP ‘16 Workshops Proceedings, article no. 12 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Kamsties, E.: Understanding ambiguity in requirements engineering. In: Aurum, A., Wohlin, C. (eds.) Engineering and Managing Software Requirements. Springer, Heidelberg (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Kauppinen, M., Savolainen, J., Lehtola, L., Komssi, M., Töhönen, H., Davis, A.: From feature development to customer value creation. In: 17th International Requirements Engineering Conference, pp. 275–280 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Khan, H.H., bin Mahrin, M.N., Malik, M.N.: Situational requirement engineering framework for global software development: formulation and design. Bahria University. JICT 9(1), 74–84 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Khan, H., bin Mahrin, M.N., Chuprat, S.: Situational requirement engineering framework for global software development. In: International Conference on Computer, Communication, and Control Technology, Kedach, Malesia, pp. 224–229 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Khan, H.H., bin Mahrin, M.N., Chuprat, S.: Situational factors affecting requirement engineering process in global software development. In: IEEE Conference Open Systems, Malaysia, pp. 118–121 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Kaarst-Brown, M.L.: How Organisations Keep Information Technology Out: The Interaction of Tri-Level Influences on Organisational and IT Culture, Working Paper IST-MLKB, Syracuse University, US (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  33. Kaarst-Brown, M.L., Robey, D.: More on myth, magic and metaphor: cultural insights into the management of information technology in organisations. Inf. Tech. People 12(2), 192–217 (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  34. Komssi, M., Kauppinen, M., Töhönen, H., Lehtola, L., Davis, A.M.: Roadmapping problems in practice: value creation from the perspective of the customers. Requirements Eng. 20(1), 45–69 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00766-013-0186-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Lai, R., Ali, N.: A method of requirements management for global software development. Advances in Information Sciences, Human and Science Publication, USA (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  36. Lampropoulos, G., Morcavallo, A., Salvi, L., Spiralska-Golak, I., Siakas, K. DevOps: the new frontier of industrial software. In: Khan, O., Marchbank, P., Georgiadou, E., Linecar, P., Ross, M., Staples, G. (eds.) International Experiences and Initiatives in IT Quality Management, 27th SQM, Southampton, UK, pp. 119–130 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  37. Lehman, M.: Development and Evolution, Address at IDI, Oslo, 16 March 2006

    Google Scholar 

  38. Lehtola, L., Kauppinen, M., Vähäniitty, J., Komssi, M.: Linking business and requirements engineering: is solution planning a missing activity in software product companies? Requirements Eng. 14, 113–128 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Mighetti, J.P., Hadad, G.D.S.: A requirements engineering process adapted to global software development. CLEI Electron. J. 19(3) Paper 7 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  40. NewRelic 2018. Navigating DevOps - What it is and why it matters to you and your business, eBook, https://try.newrelic.com/rs/412-MZS-894/images/NewRelic_DevOps-101-Navigating-DevOps-eBook.pdf

  41. Ojukwu, D., Gergiadou, E.: Towards improving inter-organisational trust amongst smes – a case study from developing countries. In: 9th IFIP International Conference on the Social Implications of Computers in Developing Countries, Sao Paolo, Brazil, May 2007

    Google Scholar 

  42. Pacheco, C., García, I., Reyes, M.: Requirements elicitation techniques: a systematic literature review based on the maturity of the techniques. IET Softw. 12(4), 364–378 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Pandey, D., Suman, U., Ramani, A.K.: An effective requirement engineering process model for software development and requirements management. In: International Conference on Advances in Recent Technologies in Communication and Computing, IEEE Comp. Soc., pp. 287–291 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  44. Pendo-Study (2020). https://wraltechwire.com/2020/01/28/pendo-study-with-80-of-features-not-used-software-execs-re-evaluating-success-metrics/

  45. Ramasubbu, N., Mithas, S., Krishnan, M.S., Kemerer, C.: Work dispersion, process-based learning and offshore software development performance. MIS Q. 32(2), 437–458 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Ramesh, B., Cao, L., Kim. J.J., Mohan, K., and James, T.L. Conflicts and complements between eastern cultures and agile methods: an empirical investigation. EJIS 26(2), 206–235 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  47. Romero, M., Vizcaino, A., Piattini, M.: Towards a definition of completeness for global requirements elicitation. In: 13th Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education, p. 364 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  48. Shewell, C.: Good Business Communicates Across Cultures: A Practical Guide to Communication. Mastek Publications, Bristol (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  49. Siakas, E., Rahanu, H., Georgiadou, E., Siakas, K.: Towards reducing communication gaps in multicultural and global requirements elicitation. In: Yilmaz, M., Clarke, P., Messnarz, R., Reiner, M. (eds.) Systems, Software and Services Process Improvement. EuroSPI, vol. 1442, pp. 257–277. Springer (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  50. Siakas, K., Georgiadou, E.: A new typology of national and organisational cultures to facilitate software quality management. In: Georgiadou, E., King, G., Pouyioutas, P., Ross, M., Staples, G. (eds.) Quality and Software Development: Teaching and Training Issues, the 5th INSPIRE Conference, London, pp. 213–226. 2000

    Google Scholar 

  51. Siakas, K., Georgiadou, E., Siakas, D., Rahanu, H.: Developing effective teams in global multidiscipline engineering and manufacturing organisations. In: Larrucea, X., Santamaria, I., O’Connor, R.V., Messnarz, R. (eds.) Systems, Software and Services Process Improvement, pp. 564–576. Springer, Heidelberg (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  52. Siakas, K., Georgiadou, E., Siakas, D.: Knowledge sharing in distributed teams: influence of national and organisational culture. In: Khosrow-Pour, M. (ed.) Entrepreneurship, Collaboration, and Innovation in the Modern Business Era, Chapter11, April 2018, pp. 221–242 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  53. Siakas, K., Siakas, D.: Cultural and organisational diversity evaluation (CODE): a tool for improving global transactions. Strat. Outsourcing Int. J. 8(2/3), 206–228 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Siakas, K., Siakas, E.: The Agile Professional Culture: A Source of Agile Quality, Software Process: Improvement and Practice (SPIP) Journal. John Wiley & Sons 12(6), 597–610 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  55. Siakas, K., Taouktsis, V., Pehlivanis, K., Voutsa, E, Gisis, T.: Assessment – Improvement of a Balanced ScoreCard Application; Experiences from a Laboratory Course in Software Quality Management. In: The 10th, INSPIRE, 21–23 March 2005, Glouchestershire, UK, pp. 11–23 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  56. Siakas, K., Mitalas, A.: Experiences from the Use of the Personal Software Process (PSP) in Greece. In: Analysis of Cultural Factors in the 9th INternational Conference on Software Process Improvement - Research into Education and Training, Kent, UK, 05–07.04.2004, pp. 11–21 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  57. Siakas, K.: SQM-CODE: Software Quality Management – Cultural and Organisational Diversity Evaluation, Ph.D. thesis, London Metropolitan University, UK (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  58. Schmidt, C.T., Kude, T., Tripp, J., Heinzl, A., Spohrer, K.: Team adaptability in agile information systems development. In: 34th International Conference on Information Systems, Milan, Italy, pp.1–11 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  59. Söderman, J.: How to be a good ombudsman. In: 11th Int- Ombudsman Institute World Conference, Occasional paper nr. 80 (2008). https://www.theioi.org/publications/occasional-papers-1979-2008. Accessed 12 Sep 2019

  60. Thayer, R.H., Royce, W.W.: Software systems engineering. In: IEEE System and Software Requirements Engineering. Los Alamos, California (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  61. Thakurta, R., Ahlemann, F.: Understanding requirements volatility in software projects – an empirical investigation of volatility awareness, management approaches and their applicability. In: Proceedings of the 43rd Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, pp. 1–10 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  62. Tjong, F.: Avoiding Ambiguity in Requirements Specifications, Ph.D. thesis, Univ. of Nottingham, UK. (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  63. Zowghi, D., Nurmuliani, N.: A study of the impact of requirements volatility on software project performance. In: 9th Asia-Pacific Software Engineering Conference, Gold Coast, Australia (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  64. Zanini, M.T., Migueles, C.: Building trust in a high-Power Distance context: the role of the perception of integrity in shared leadership. In: Academy of Management Conference, Chicago, August 2018

    Google Scholar 

  65. ISO/IEC/IEEE 26511:2018Systems and software engineering - Requirements for managers of information for users of systems, software, and services. https://www.iso.org/standard/70879.html. Accessed 31 May 2022

  66. CMMI Requirements Development (RD). https://www.cmmi.co.uk/cmmi/RD.htm. Accessed 31 May 2022

  67. SWEBOK V3, Guide to the Engineering Body of Knowledge. https://cs.fit.edu/~kgallagher/Schtick/Serious/SWEBOKv3.pdf. 31 May 2022

  68. Requirements Working Group, INCOSE, Guide for writing requirements (2012)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Archaeological Museum, Athens, Greece

    Errikos Siakas

  2. Middlesex University London, London, UK

    Harjinder Rahanu & Elli Georgiadou

  3. International Hellenic University, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Kerstin Siakas

  4. University of Vaasa, Vaasa, Finland

    Kerstin Siakas

Authors
  1. Errikos Siakas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Harjinder Rahanu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Elli Georgiadou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kerstin Siakas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Errikos Siakas .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey

    Murat Yilmaz

  2. Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland

    Paul Clarke

  3. I.S.C.N. GesmbH, Graz, Austria

    Richard Messnarz

  4. Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria

    Bruno Wöran

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Siakas, E., Rahanu, H., Georgiadou, E., Siakas, K. (2022). Requirements Volatility in Multicultural Situational Contexts. In: Yilmaz, M., Clarke, P., Messnarz, R., Wöran, B. (eds) Systems, Software and Services Process Improvement. EuroSPI 2022. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 1646. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-15559-8_45

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-15559-8_45

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-15558-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-15559-8

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation