The Lack of Shared Understanding of Non-Functional Requirements in Continuous Software Engineering: Accidental or Essential?

Building shared understanding of requirements is key to ensuring downstream software activities are efficient and effective. However, in continuous software engineering (CSE) some lack of shared understanding is an expected, and essential, part of a rapid feedback learning cycle. At the same time, there is a key trade-off with avoidable costs, such as rework, that come from accidental gaps in shared understanding. This tradeoff is even more challenging for non-functional requirements (NFRs), which have significant implications for product success. Comprehending and managing NFRs is especially difficult in small, agile organizations. How such organizations manage shared understanding of NFRs in CSE is understudied. We conducted a case study of three small organizations scaling up CSE to further understand and identify factors that contribute to lack of shared understanding of NFRs, and its relationship to rework. Our in-depth analysis identified 41 NFR-related software tasks as rework due to a lack of shared understanding of NFRs. Of these 41 tasks 78% were due to avoidable (accidental) lack of shared understanding of NFRs. Using a mixed-methods approach we identify factors that contribute to lack of shared understanding of NFRs, such as the lack of domain knowledge, rapid pace of change, and cross-organizational communication problems. We also identify recommended strategies to mitigate lack of shared understanding through more effective management of requirements knowledge in such organizations. We conclude by discussing the complex relationship between shared understanding of requirements, rework and, CSE.

I. Introduction

Shared understanding is a critical success factor in achieving high quality software that meets stakeholders’needs [1]. It also fosters a more effective, motivated, and collaborative team, more efficient use of resources, and less conflict [2]. However, empirical research on shared understanding in software engineering projects is scarce [3].