Using Contextual Information to Reduce Changes in Information Systems Requirements

使用上下文信息减少信息系统需求的变化

• 批准号: RGPIN-2018-04610
• 负责人: Woo, Carson
• 金额: $ 1.68万
• 依托单位: University of British Columbia
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2018-01-01 至 2019-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=668848
• 关键词: Using; Contextual; Information; Reduce; Changes

A persistent, and major, challenge in developing information systems is managing changing user requirements. In this research, we propose a way to anticipate such requirements instead of trying to manage them. To do so, we propose a framework for gathering and utilizing relevant contextual information in systems analysis and design. Context, in this research, is any information that is not available (or not needed) in functional and non-functional requirements specification, but useful to: determine the meaning of the requirements, detect an entire set of requirements not previously identified, and resolve potential ambiguities of requirements. Our hypothesis is that: situating users and systems analysts in the right context (even if only a partial context) will generate more accurate, complete requirements, resulting in less changes to user requirements, which are often costly.******To develop the framework, we will first survey and adapt contextual representation developed in related scientific fields for the purposes of systems analysis and design. These include artificial intelligence (e.g., knowledge representation and intelligent agents), organization science (e.g., organizational structure, organizational behavior, and organizational learning), philosophy of science (e.g., narratives to provide contextual information), and learning (e.g., cognitive science and psychology theories). A design science approach will be adopted because our objectives are to: develop a workable artifact (the framework); and evaluate and test it on real world problems. This will require an iterative approach, adopting theories and research results from the related scientific fields.******The general idea of the proposed research is similar to contextual information used in human-computer interactions, the Internet of things, smart homes, robotics, and ubiquitous computing. Work performed in these areas will be used as input. However, employing contextual information in systems analysis is not exactly the same as other areas because the context of systems analysis includes organizational behavior, organizational learning, and complex business processes, which go beyond individuals working in an environment. There has also been significant, relevant work carried out in goal-based requirements engineering, use cases, and user stories that can provide some of the contextual information needed for requirements. This research will add to this knowledge base by including additional, more business and organization centric, context.******Given the small number of successful information systems projects (approximately 30% as reported at https://www.infoq.com/articles/standish-chaos-2015), the potential impact of this research is high and could directly contribute to organizational savings.

开发信息系统的一个持续的重大挑战是管理不断变化的用户需求。在这项研究中，我们提出了一种方法来预测这些要求，而不是试图管理它们。要做到这一点，我们提出了一个框架，收集和利用相关的上下文信息的系统分析和设计。在本研究中，上下文是功能和非功能需求规范中不可用（或不需要）的任何信息，但有助于：确定需求的含义，检测以前未识别的整个需求集，并解决潜在的需求模糊性。我们的假设是：将用户和系统分析人员置于正确的环境中（即使只是部分环境），将产生更准确、更完整的需求，从而减少对用户需求的更改，而这些更改通常是昂贵的。为了开发框架，我们将首先调查和适应上下文表示在相关科学领域的系统分析和设计的目的。其中包括人工智能（例如，知识表示和智能代理），组织科学（例如，组织结构、组织行为和组织学习），科学哲学（例如，提供上下文信息的叙述），以及学习（例如，认知科学和心理学理论）。设计科学的方法将被采用，因为我们的目标是：开发一个可行的工件（框架），并评估和测试它对真实的世界的问题。这将需要采用迭代方法，采用相关科学领域的理论和研究成果。所提出的研究的总体思路类似于人机交互、物联网、智能家居、机器人和无处不在的计算中使用的上下文信息。在这些领域开展的工作将被用作投入。然而，在系统分析中使用上下文信息与其他领域并不完全相同，因为系统分析的上下文包括组织行为，组织学习和复杂的业务流程，这些超出了在环境中工作的个人。在基于目标的需求工程、用例和用户故事方面也进行了重要的相关工作，这些工作可以提供需求所需的一些上下文信息。这项研究将通过包括额外的、更多的以业务和组织为中心的背景来增加这一知识库。**鉴于成功的信息系统项目数量很少（据https：//www.infoq.com/articles/standish-chaos-2015报道，约占30%），这项研究的潜在影响很大，可以直接为组织节省资金做出贡献。