Requirements Engineering: Dealing with the Complexity of Sociotechnical Systems Development

Abstract

This chapter introduces requirements engineering for sociotechnical systems. Requirements engineering for sociotechnical systems is a complex process that considers product demands from a vast number of viewpoints, roles, responsibilities, and objectives. This chapter explains the requirements engineering terminology and describes the requirements engineering process in detail, with examples of available methods for the main process activities. The main activities described include system requirements development, requirements allocation and flow-down, software requirements development, and continuous activities, including requirements documentation, requirements validation and verification, and requirements management. As requirements engineering is the process with the largest impact on the end product, it is recommended to invest more effort in both industrial application as well as research to increase understanding and deployment of the concepts presented in this chapter.