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Improving requirements elicitation in large-scale software projects with reduced customer engagement: a proposed cost-effective model

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Abstract

Effective requirements elicitation is crucial for the success of large-scale software projects. However, challenges arise when customers are unavailable or unable to express their needs clearly. This research presents a cost-effective model to address these challenges and facilitate efficient requirements elicitation in such scenarios. The survey is used to investigate the significance of the requirements elicitation process and its impact on software project outcomes. The key themes that emerged from the survey analysis are the importance of the elicitation process, the value of prior experience, the impact of poor requirements definition, customer engagement and communication, schedule adherence, and previous success and confidence. Based on these findings, the proposed model provides a systematic framework for requirements elicitation. It encompasses essential components such as determining customer availability, gathering domain understanding, defining project scope and objectives, conducting personal and collective introspection, consolidating requirements, refining and prioritizing requirements, developing an initial Software Requirements Specification (SRS) version, and validating requirements. This research article contributes valuable insights into the requirements elicitation process and presents a practical model that enhances understanding and capturing stakeholder needs when customer involvement is challenging, accelerates elicitation and analysis processes, improves requirements documentation accuracy and completeness, and offers competitive market advantages.

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  1. Department of Software Engineering, National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Tauqeer ul Amin & Basit Shahzad

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  1. Tauqeer ul Amin
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Amin, T.u., Shahzad, B. Improving requirements elicitation in large-scale software projects with reduced customer engagement: a proposed cost-effective model. Requirements Eng 29, 403–418 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00766-024-00425-2

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