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

Wasim Alsaqaf; Maya Daneva; Roelf J. Wieringa

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-77243-1_9

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 proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

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 language	English
Title of host publication	Requirements Engineering
Subtitle of host publication	Foundation for Software Quality - 24th International Working Conference, REFSQ 2018, Utrecht, The Netherlands, March 19-22, 2018. Proceedings
Editors	Erik Kamsties, Jennifer Horkoff, Fabio Dalpiaz
Publisher	Springer
Pages	139-154
Number of pages	16
ISBN (Electronic)	978-3-319-77243-1
ISBN (Print)	978-3-319-77242-4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77243-1_9
Publication status	Published - 19 Mar 2018
Event	24th International Working Conference on Requirements Engineering: Foundation for Software Quality, REFSQ 2018 - Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands Duration: 19 Mar 2018 → 22 Mar 2018 Conference number: 24 https://refsq.org/2018/welcome/

Publication series

Name	Lecture Notes in Computer Science
Publisher	Springer
Volume	10753
ISSN (Print)	0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)	1611-3349

Conference

Conference	24th International Working Conference on Requirements Engineering: Foundation for Software Quality, REFSQ 2018
Abbreviated title	REFSQ 2018
Country	Netherlands
City	Utrecht
Period	19/03/18 → 22/03/18
Internet address	https://refsq.org/2018/welcome/

Keywords

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

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-319-77243-1_9

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-3-319-77243-1_9Licence: Unspecified
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Alsaqaf, W., Daneva, M., & Wieringa, R. J. (2018). Quality requirements challenges in the context of large-scale distributed agile: An empirical study. In E. Kamsties, J. Horkoff, & F. Dalpiaz (Eds.), Requirements Engineering: Foundation for Software Quality - 24th International Working Conference, REFSQ 2018, Utrecht, The Netherlands, March 19-22, 2018. Proceedings (pp. 139-154). (Lecture Notes in Computer Science; Vol. 10753). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77243-1_9

Alsaqaf, Wasim ; Daneva, Maya ; Wieringa, Roelf J. / Quality requirements challenges in the context of large-scale distributed agile : An empirical study. Requirements Engineering: Foundation for Software Quality - 24th International Working Conference, REFSQ 2018, Utrecht, The Netherlands, March 19-22, 2018. Proceedings. editor / Erik Kamsties ; Jennifer Horkoff ; Fabio Dalpiaz. Springer, 2018. pp. 139-154 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science).

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

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{\textquoteright} perspective and the comparison of our findings with previously published results.",

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Alsaqaf, W , Daneva, M & Wieringa, RJ 2018, Quality requirements challenges in the context of large-scale distributed agile: An empirical study. in E Kamsties, J Horkoff & F Dalpiaz (eds), Requirements Engineering: Foundation for Software Quality - 24th International Working Conference, REFSQ 2018, Utrecht, The Netherlands, March 19-22, 2018. Proceedings. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 10753, Springer, pp. 139-154, 24th International Working Conference on Requirements Engineering: Foundation for Software Quality, REFSQ 2018, Utrecht, Netherlands, 19/03/18. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77243-1_9

Quality requirements challenges in the context of large-scale distributed agile : An empirical study. / Alsaqaf, Wasim ; Daneva, Maya; Wieringa, Roelf J.

Requirements Engineering: Foundation for Software Quality - 24th International Working Conference, REFSQ 2018, Utrecht, The Netherlands, March 19-22, 2018. Proceedings. ed. / Erik Kamsties; Jennifer Horkoff; Fabio Dalpiaz. Springer, 2018. p. 139-154 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science; Vol. 10753).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

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AU - Alsaqaf, Wasim

AU - Daneva, Maya

AU - Wieringa, Roelf J.

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AB - [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.

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Alsaqaf W , Daneva M, Wieringa RJ. Quality requirements challenges in the context of large-scale distributed agile: An empirical study. In Kamsties E, Horkoff J, Dalpiaz F, editors, Requirements Engineering: Foundation for Software Quality - 24th International Working Conference, REFSQ 2018, Utrecht, The Netherlands, March 19-22, 2018. Proceedings. Springer. 2018. p. 139-154. (Lecture Notes in Computer Science). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77243-1_9