Pushing Requirements Changes through to Changes in Specifications

• Published in: 2008 2nd IFIP/IEEE International Symposium on Theoretical Aspects of Software Engineering pp. 289 - 296
• Main Authors: Lan Lin, Poore, J.H.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 01.06.2008
• Subjects: Application software; automaton; Automotive components; changing state diagrams; Computer errors; Formal specifications; Humans; Instruments; Mealy machine; Prototypes; Requirements change management; sequence-based specification; Software engineering; Software quality; USA Councils
• ISBN: 0769532497; 9780769532493
• DOI: 10.1109/TASE.2008.16

Requirements changes can occur both during and after a phase of development. It is difficult and intensive work to integrate requirements changes made after specification is completed. Sequence-based specification was developed to convert ordinary functional requirements into complete, consistent, and traceably correct specifications through a constructive process. Algorithms for managing requirements changes meet a very great need in field application of the sequence-based specification method. In this paper we propose to capture requirements changes as a series of atomic changes in specifications, and present algorithms for managing these changes. The algorithms are built into the tool support with which users are able to push requirements changes through to changes in specifications, maintain old specifications over time and evolve them into new specifications with the least amount of human interaction and rework. All our change algorithms are supported by rigorous mathematical formulation and proof of correctness.