Non-functional Requirements Documentation in Agile Software Development: Challenges and Solution Proposal

• Published in: Product-Focused Software Process Improvement pp. 515 - 522
• Main Authors: Behutiye, Woubshet, Karhapää, Pertti, Costal, Dolors, Oivo, Markku, Franch, Xavier
• Format: Book Chapter Publication
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 2017; Springer
• Series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science
• Subjects: Agile software development; Computer software; Desenvolupament; Development; Enginyeria del software; Informàtica; NFR; Non-functional requirements; Non-functional requirements (Systems engineering); Non-functional requirements documentation; Programari; Quality requirements; Àrees temàtiques de la UPC
• ISBN: 9783319699257; 3319699253; 9783319699264; 3319699261
• ISSN: 0302-9743; 1611-3349
• DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-69926-4_41

Non-functional requirements (NFRs) are determinant for the success of software projects. However, they are characterized as hard to define, and in agile software development (ASD), are often given less priority and usually not documented. In this paper, we present the findings of the documentation practices and challenges of NFRs in companies utilizing ASD and propose guidelines for enhancing NFRs documentation in ASD. We interviewed practitioners from four companies and identified that epics, features, user stories, acceptance criteria, Definition of Done (DoD), product and sprint backlogs are used for documenting NFRs. Wikis, word documents, mockups and spreadsheets are also used for documenting NFRs. In smaller companies, NFRs are communicated through white board and flip chart discussions and developers’ tacit knowledge is prioritized over documentation. However, loss of traceability of NFRs, the difficulty in comprehending NFRs by new developers joining the team and limitations of documentation practices for NFRs are challenges in ASD. In this regard, we propose guidelines for documenting NFRs in ASD. The proposed guidelines consider the diversity of the NFRs to document and suggest different representation artefacts depending on the NFRs scope and level of detail. The representation artefacts suggested are among those currently used in ASD in order not to introduce new specific ones that might hamper actual adoption by practitioners.