Processes and Process Models
Lecture # 5
Process - 1
A process is an organized set of activities, which transforms inputs to outputs We can use synonyms of process such as: procedure, method, course of action, etc. Processes are essential for dealing with complexity in real world
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Process - 2
Processes document the steps in solving a certain problem They allow knowledge to be reused They Allow people to apply the process in their peculiar but similar problems
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Examples of Processes - 1
An instruction manual for operating a microwave oven An instruction manual for assembling a computer or its parts
A procedure manual for operating a motor vehicle radio and CD player
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Examples of Processes - 2
A quality manual for software development.
Such a manual describes the processes, which should be used to assure the quality of the software
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Software Processes
Software engineering, as a discipline, has many processes
These processes help in performing different software engineering activities in an organized manner
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Software Processes
Requires creativity Provides interactions between a wide range of different people Helps in engineering judgment Requires background knowledge
Examples of Software Processes
Software engineering development process (SDLC) Requirements engineering process Design process Quality assurance process Change management process
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Software Requirements Engineering Process
Before discussing different aspects of requirements engineering process, let us discuss the concept of process models
Process Models
A process model is a simplified description of a process presented from a particular perspective There may be several different models of the same process No single model gives a complete understanding of the process being modeled
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Variations in Process Models
A process model is produced on the anticipated need for that model. We may need
A model to help explain how process information has been organized A model to help understand and improve a process A model to satisfy some quality management standard
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Types of Process Model
Coarse-grain activity models Fine-grain activity models Role-action models Entity-relation models
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Coarse-grain Activity Model
This type of model provides an overall picture of the process Describes the context of different activities in the process It doesnt document how to enact a process
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Context of Requirements Engineering
Software requirements follow the system requirements and system design The primary goal is understanding Software requirements are followed by software design in a software development life cycle
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Context of RE Process in Waterfall Model
System requirements engineering
Software requirements engineering
Software design Programming and unit testing System testing System operation
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Another Perspective on Context of RE Process
System acquisition
Requirements engineering
System design
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Coarse-grain Activity Model of the Requirements Engineering Process
Requirements engineering process is an example of coarse-grain activity model
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Coarse-grain Activity Model of the Requirements Engineering Process
Requirements Elicitation
Requirements Analysis and Negotiation
Requirements Specification
Requirements Validation
User Needs, Domain Information, Existing System Information, Regulations, Standards, Etc.
Requirements Document
Agreed Requirements
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Spiral Model of RE Process
Informal statement of requirements
Requirement elicitation
Requirement analysis and negotiation
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Requirements document and validation report
Agreed requirements
Requirement validation Draft requirements document
Requirement documentation
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Fine-grain Activity Models
These are more detailed models of a specific process, which are used for understanding and improving existing processes Well discuss some fine-grain processes within the general requirements engineering processes in later lectures
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Role-action Models
These are models, which show the roles of different people involved in the process and the actions which they take They are useful for process understanding and automation
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Entity-relation Models
The models show the process inputs, outputs, and intermediate results and the relationships between them They are useful in quality management systems
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Summary
A process is an organized set of activities which transforms inputs to outputs, and they help in coping with complexity in the world Differences between these processes usually emerge at the level of detailed description A process model is a simplified description of a process presented from a particular perspective
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References
Requirements Engineering: Processes and Techniques by G. Kotonya and I. Sommerville, John Wiley & Sons, 1998
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