Quality requirements challenges in the context of large-scale distributed agile: An empirical study

Wasim Alsaqaf*, Maya Daneva, Roelf J. Wieringa

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionAcademicpeer-review

    4 Citations (Scopus)
    8 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    [Context and Motivation] Focusing single-mindedly on delivering functional requirements while neglecting quality requirements has been a point of criticism of Agile software development methods since their introduction. [Question/problem] Empirical evidence on the challenges that organizations currently face when dealing with quality requirements in Agile, is however scant. [Principle ideas/results] We performed a qualitative exploratory multiple case study in the context of real-life large-scale distributed Agile projects, in order to understand the challenges Agile teams face regarding quality requirements. Based on 17 semi-structured, open-ended, in-depth interviews with Agile practitioners from six organizations in the Netherlands, we collected and analysed data, revealing 13 quality requirements challenges classified in five categories: (1) team coordination and communication, (2) quality assurance, (3) quality requirements elicitation, (4) conceptual definitions, and (5) software architecture. We found an incongruity in the way QRs are conceptualized by Agile practitioners and in RE textbooks. [Contribution] The main contributions of the paper are the explication of the challenges from practitioners’ perspective and the comparison of our findings with previously published results.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationRequirements Engineering
    Subtitle of host publicationFoundation for Software Quality - 24th International Working Conference, REFSQ 2018, Utrecht, The Netherlands, March 19-22, 2018. Proceedings
    EditorsErik Kamsties, Jennifer Horkoff, Fabio Dalpiaz
    PublisherSpringer
    Pages139-154
    Number of pages16
    ISBN (Electronic)978-3-319-77243-1
    ISBN (Print)978-3-319-77242-4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 19 Mar 2018
    Event24th International Working Conference on Requirements Engineering: Foundation for Software Quality, REFSQ 2018 - Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
    Duration: 19 Mar 201822 Mar 2018
    Conference number: 24
    https://refsq.org/2018/welcome/

    Publication series

    NameLecture Notes in Computer Science
    PublisherSpringer
    Volume10753
    ISSN (Print)0302-9743
    ISSN (Electronic)1611-3349

    Conference

    Conference24th International Working Conference on Requirements Engineering: Foundation for Software Quality, REFSQ 2018
    Abbreviated titleREFSQ 2018
    Country/TerritoryNetherlands
    CityUtrecht
    Period19/03/1822/03/18
    Internet address

    Keywords

    • Agile large-scale distributed projects
    • Exploratory empirical research method
    • Interviews
    • Quality requirements
    • Requirements engineering

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