Chapter 4 - Requirements Engineering Flashcards
A characteristic or feature that must be included in an information system to satisfy business requirements and be acceptable to users.
system requirement
A description of the system requirements from the user’s point of view.
requirements definitions
A description of the system requirements from the analyst or engineering team’s point of view.
requirements specifications
A statement of the services a system provides.
functional requirement
A statement of operational system constraints.
non-functional requirement
See non-functional requirements.
quality attributes
A characteristic of a system, implying that the system can be expanded, modified, or downsized easily to meet the rapidly changing needs of a business enterprise.
Scalability
A systems development technique that uses a task force of users, managers, and IT professionals who work together to gather information, discuss business needs, and define the new system requirements.
Joint application development (JAD)
A team-based technique that speeds up information systems development and produces a functioning information system. ____ is similar in concept to JAD but goes further by including all phases of the SDLC.
Rapid application development (RAD)
A phase that combines elements of the systems planning and systems analysis phases of the SDLC.
requirements planning phase
In this phase, users interact with systems analysts and develop models and prototypes that represent all system processes, outputs, and inputs.
user design phase
A phase that focuses on program and application development tasks similar to the SDLC.
construction phase
A phase that resembles the final tasks in the SDLC implementation phase, including data conversion, testing, changeover to the new system, and user training.
cutover phase
A popular technique for agile project management. Derived from a rugby term. In ______, team members play specific roles and interact in intense sessions.
Scrum
The process of gathering requirements.
fact-finding / requirements elicitation
A planned meeting during which information is obtained from another person
interview
An organization based on interpersonal relationships, which can develop from previous work assignments, physical proximity, unofficial procedures, or personal relationships.
Informal structures
Queries that suggest or favor a particular reply.
leading questions
Queries that allow for a range of answers. They encourage spontaneous and unstructured responses and are useful in understanding a larger process
Open-ended questions
Queries that limit or restrict the range of responses. Used in the interview process when specific information or fact verification is desired.
Closed-ended questions
Closed-ended questions that ask the person to evaluate something by providing limited answers to specific responses or on a numeric scale.
Range-of-response questions
The ability to really concentrate on what someone is saying and avoid the temptation to hear what is expected. Also includes noticing nonverbal communication.
engaged listening
A review of baseline documentation. A useful factfinding technique that helps an analyst understand how the current system is supposed to work.
Document review
A fact-finding technique where an analyst sees a system in action. _____________ allows the verification of statements made in interviews.
observation
A phenomenon where employees who know they are being observed are more productive.
Hawthorne Effect
A document containing a number of standard questions that can be sent to many individuals.
questionnaire / survey
A template used to collect data on the Internet or a company intranet.
fill-in form
A fact-finding technique for gaining information through the use of a small group discussion of a specific problem, opportunity, or issue.
brainstorming
A group discussion where each participant speaks when it is his or her turn or passes.
structured brainstorming
A group discussion where any participant can speak at any time.
unstructured brainstorming
A process where an analyst collects examples of actual documents, which could include records, reports, or various forms.
sampling
A sample that occurs at a predetermined periodicity. For example, every tenth customer record might be selected as a ______________ for review.
systematic sample
A set metric is collected across functional areas. For example, a certain percentage of transactions from every work shift, or five customers from each of four zip codes, could be a ________________.
stratified sample
A selection taken in a random, unplanned manner. For example, a ____________ might be a sample that selects any 20 customers.
random sample
An important fact-finding technique that includes the review of journals, periodicals, and books to obtain background information, technical material, and news about industry trends and developments.
Research
A trip to a physical location to observe a system in use at another location.
site visit
In an agile project, a simple, high-level statement of a requirement.
features / epic
In an agile project, a set of more refined requirements derived from features
user stories
In an agile project, a real-world example of how users will interact with the system.
scenarios
In an agile project, a simple graphic organizer that helps systems analysts visualize the status of a project.
storyboards
A top-down representation of business functions and processes. Also called a structure chart.
functional decomposition diagram (FDD)
The overall diagram in BPMN.
pool
In a business process diagram, the overall diagram is called a pool and the designated customer areas are called ___________.
swim lanes
A widely used method of visualizing and documenting software systems design. ___ uses object-oriented design concepts, but it is independent of any specific programming language and can be used to describe business processes and requirements generally.
47.
Unified Modeling Language (UML)
A dialect of UML 2, used for representing requirements (and other things), primarily in MBSE applications.
SysML
A visual representation that illustrates the interaction between users and the information system in UML.
use case diagram
An external entity with a specific role. In a use case model, ______ are used to model interaction with the system.
actor
A UML diagram that shows the timing of transactions between objects as they occur during system execution.
sequence diagram
Applications such as word processing, spreadsheet, database management, and presentation graphics programs.
productivity software
A tool that helps manage tasks and schedules. Many handheld devices also include this function.
personal information manager (PIM)
A common tool for showing the distribution of questionnaire or sampling results. It takes the form of a vertical bar chart.
histogram
The ability to follow a requirement backward to its origins and forward through the SDLC to link design documents, code fragments, and test artifacts.
traceability
