Requirements Analysis and Specification: Prof. R. Mall

Requirements Analysis and
Specification (Lecture 3)
Prof. R. Mall
Dept. of CSE, IIT, Kharagpur
Organization of this Lecture
Introduction
Requirements analysis
Requirements specification
SRS document
Decision table
Decision tree
Summary
2

Specification
Many projects fail:

Because
they start
implementing the system.
Without
determining whether
they are building what the
customer really wants.

Specification
It is important to learn:
Requirements
analysis and
specification techniques
carefully.

Specification
Goals of requirements analysis and

specification phase:
Fully understand the user requirements.
Remove inconsistencies, anomalies, etc.

from requirements.
Document requirements properly in an

SRS document.

Specification
Consists of two distinct

activities:
Requirements Gathering and

Analysis
Specification
Who Carries Out Requirements

Analysis and Specification?
The person who undertakes requirements

analysis and specification:
Known as systems analyst:
Collects data pertaining to the product
Analyzes collected data:
To understand what exactly needs to be done.
Writes the Software Requirements

Specification (SRS) document.
7

Specification
Final output of this phase:
Software Requirements Specification (SRS)

Document.
The SRS document is reviewed by the

customer.
Reviewed SRS document forms the basis of

all future development activities.
Requirements Analysis
Requirements analysis consists

of two main activities:
Requirements
gathering
Analysis
of the gathered
requirements
Requirements Analysis
Analyst gathers requirements through:
Observation of existing systems,
Studying existing procedures,
Discussion with the customer and endusers,
Analysis of what needs to be done, etc.
10
Requirements Gathering
Also known as requirements elicitation.

If the project is to automate some existing
procedures
e.g., automating existing manual accounting

activities,
The task of the system analyst is a little easier
Analyst can immediately obtain:
input and output formats
accurate details of the operational procedures

11
Activities
1. Studying the existing

documentation
2. Interview
3. Task analysis
4. Scenario analysis
5. Form analysis
12
(CONT.)
In the absence of a working

system,
Lot
of imagination and creativity

are required.
Interacting with the customer

to gather relevant data:
Requires
a lot of experience.
13
(CONT.)
Some desirable attributes of

a good system analyst:
Good
interaction skills,
Imagination
and creativity,
Experience.
14
Case Study: Automation of

Office Work at CSE Dept.
The academic, inventory, and financial

information at the CSE department:
Being carried though manual processing by two

office clerks, a store keeper, and two
attendants.
Considering the low budget he had at his

Disposal:
The HoD entrusted the work to a team of

student volunteers.
15

The team was first briefed by the HoD

about the specific activities to be
automated.
The analyst first discussed with the two
clerks:
Regarding their specific responsibilities

(tasks) that were to be automated.
The analyst also interviewed student and

faculty representatives who would also
use the software.
16

For each task, they asked:

About
the steps through which

these are performed.
They also discussed various
scenarios that might arise for
each task.
The analyst collected all types of
forms that were being used.
17
Analysis of the Gathered

Requirements
Main purpose of requirements analysis:
Clearly understand the user requirements,

Detect inconsistencies, ambiguities, and
incompleteness.
Incompleteness and inconsistencies:
Resolved through further discussions with

the end-users and the customers.
18
Inconsistent Requirement
Some part of the requirement:
contradicts with some other part.
Example:
One customer says turn off heater and

open water shower when temperature >
100 C
Another customer says turn off heater

and turn ON cooler when temperature >
100 C
19
Incomplete Requirement
Some requirements have been

omitted:
Possibly
due to oversight.
Example:
The analyst has not recorded:

when temperature falls below 90 C
heater should be turned ON
water shower turned OFF.
20

Requirements (CONT.)
Requirements analysis involves:

Obtaining
a clear, in-depth
understanding of the product to be
developed,
Remove
all ambiguities and

inconsistencies from the initial
customer perception of the
problem.
21

It is quite difficult to obtain:

A
clear, in-depth
understanding of the problem:
Especially if there is no working

model of the problem.
22

Experienced analysts take

considerable time:
To
understand the exact

requirements the customer has in
his mind.
23

Experienced systems analysts know often as a result of painful

experiences --
Without a clear understanding of the

problem, it is impossible to develop a
satisfactory system.
24

Requirements(CONT.)
Several things about the project should

be clearly understood by the analyst:
What is the problem?
Why is it important to solve the problem?
What are the possible solutions to the

problem?
What complexities might arise while solving

the problem?
25

Requirements(CONT.)
Some anomalies and inconsistencies

can be very subtle:
Escape even most experienced eyes.
If a formal model of the system is

constructed,
Many of the subtle anomalies and

inconsistencies get detected.
26

Requirements(CONT.)
After collecting all data regarding

the system to be developed,
Remove all inconsistencies and

anomalies from the requirements,
Systematically organize requirements

into a Software Requirements
Specification (SRS) document.
27
Software Requirements
Specification
Main aim of requirements

specification:
Systematically organize the

requirements arrived during
requirements analysis.
Document requirements properly.
28
Software Requirements
Specification
The SRS document is useful in

various contexts:
Statement of user needs
Contract document
Reference document
Definition for implementation
29
Software Requirements Specification:

A Contract Document
Requirements document is a reference

document.
SRS document is a contract between
the development team and the customer.
Once the SRS document is approved by the

customer,
Any subsequent controversies are settled by

referring the SRS document.
30
Software Requirements Specification:

A Contract Document
Once customer agrees to the SRS

document:
Development team starts to develop the

product according to the requirements
recorded in the SRS document.
The final product will be acceptable to the

customer:
As long as it satisfies all the requirements

recorded in the SRS document.
31
SRS Document
(CONT.)
The SRS document is known as black-box

specification:
The system is considered as a black box whose

internal details are not known.
Only its visible external (i.e. input/output)

behavior is documented.
InputData
OutputData
32
SRS Document
(CONT.)
SRS document concentrates on:
What needs to be done
Carefully avoids the solution (how to do)

aspects.
The SRS document serves as a contract
Between development team and the

customer.
Should be carefully written
33
SRS Document
(CONT.)
The requirements at this stage:

Written
using end-user
terminology.
If necessary:
Later
a formal requirement
specification may be developed
from it.
34
Properties of a Good SRS

Document
It should be concise
It should specify what the system must do
and not say how to do it.
Easy to change.,
and at the same time should not be

ambiguous.
i.e. it should be well-structured.
It should be consistent.
It should be complete.
35
Properties of a Good SRS

Document (cont...)
It should be traceable
You
should be able to trace which

part of the specification
corresponds to which part of the
design, code, etc and vice versa.
It should be verifiable
e.g. system should be user friendly

is not verifiable
36
SRS Document
(CONT.)
SRS document, normally contains

three important parts:
Functional
requirements,
Non-functional
Goals
requirements,
of Implementation.
37
SRS Document
(CONT.)
It is desirable to consider every

system:
Performing a set of functions {fi}.
Each function fi considered as:
Transforming a set of input data to

corresponding output data.
InputData
fi
OutputData
38
Example: Functional
Requirement
F1: Search Book
Input:
an authors name:
Output:
details of the authors books and the locations

of these books in the library.
AuthorName
f1
BookDetails
39
Functional Requirements
Functional requirements describe:

A set of high-level requirements
Each high-level requirement:
takes in some data from the user
outputs some data to the user
Each high-level requirement:
might consist of a set of identifiable

functions
40
For each high-level requirement:

Every
of:
function is described in terms
Input data set
Output data set
Processing required to obtain the output

data set from the input data set.
41
Nonfunctional Requirements
Characteristics of the system

which can not be expressed as
functions:
Maintainability,
Portability,
Usability, etc.
42
Nonfunctional requirements include:
Reliability issues,
Performance issues:
Example: How fast the system can produce results
so that it does not overload another system to

which it supplies data, etc.
Human-computer interface issues,
Interface with other external systems,
Security, maintainability, etc.

43
Non-Functional Requirements
Hardware to be used,
Operating system
or DBMS to be used
Capabilities of I/O devices
Standards compliance
Data representations
by the interfaced system
44
Goals of Implementation
Goals describe things that are desirable

of the system:
But, would not be checked for compliance.
For example,
Reusability issues
Functionalities to be developed in future
45
Organization of the SRS

Document
Introduction.
External interface requirements
Performance requirements
Goals of implementation
46
A high-level function is one:
Can the receipt printing work during

withdrawal of money from an ATM:
Using which the user can get some useful piece

of work done.
Be called a useful piece of work?
A high-level requirement typically involves:
Accepting some data from the user,
Transforming it to the required response, and

then
Outputting the system response to the user.

47
High-Level Function
A high-level function:
Usually involves a series of interactions

between the system and one or more
users.
Even for the same high-level function,
There can be different interaction

sequences (or scenarios)
Due to users selecting different options or
entering different data items.
48
Example Functional
Requirements
List all functional requirements
with proper numbering.
Req. 1:
Once the user selects the search option,
he is asked to enter the key words.
The system should output details of all books
whose title or author name matches any of the key

words entered.
Details include: Title, Author Name, Publisher
name, Year of Publication, ISBN Number, Catalog
Number, Location in the Library.
49
Example Functional Requirements
Req. 2:
When the renew option is selected,
After password validation,
The user is asked to enter his membership

number and password.
The list of the books borrowed by him are
displayed.
The user can renew any of the books:
By clicking in the corresponding renew box.
50
Req. 1:
R.1.1:
Input: search option,
Output: user prompted to enter the key words.
R1.2:
Input: key words
Output: Details of all books whose title or author

name matches any of the key words.
Details include: Title, Author Name, Publisher name, Year

of Publication, ISBN Number, Catalog Number, Location in
the Library.
Processing: Search the book list for the keywords
51
Req. 2:
R2.1:
Input: renew option selected,

Output: user prompted to enter his membership
number and password.
R2.2:
Input: membership number and password

Output:
list of the books borrowed by user are displayed. User

prompted to enter books to be renewed or
user informed about bad password
Processing: Password validation, search books issued

to the user from borrower list and display.
52
Req. 2:
R2.3:
Input: user choice for renewal of the books

issued to him through mouse clicks in the
corresponding renew box.
Output: Confirmation of the books renewed
Processing: Renew the books selected by the

in the borrower list.
53
Examples of Bad SRS

Documents
Unstructured Specifications:
Narrative essay --- one of the worst

types of specification document:
Difficult to change,
Difficult to be precise,
Difficult to be unambiguous,
Scope for contradictions, etc.
54
Examples of Bad SRS

Documents
Noise:
Presence of text containing information

irrelevant to the problem.
Silence:
aspects important to proper solution of the

problem are omitted.
55
Examples of Bad SRS

Documents
Overspecification:
Addressing how to aspects
For example, Library member names should be stored

in a sorted descending order
Overspecification restricts the solution space for the

designer.
Contradictions:
Contradictions might arise
if the same thing described at several places in different

ways.
56
Examples of Bad SRS

Documents
Ambiguity:
Literary expressions
Unquantifiable aspects, e.g. good user interface
Forward References:
References to aspects of problem
defined only later on in the text.
Wishful Thinking:
Descriptions of aspects
for which realistic solutions will be hard to find.
57
Representation of complex
processing logic:
Decision trees
Decision tables
58
Decision Trees
Decision trees:
Edges of a decision tree represent conditions
Leaf nodes represent actions to be performed.
A decision tree gives a graphic view of:
Logic involved in decision making
Corresponding actions taken.
59
Example: LMS
A Library Membership automation

Software (LMS) should support the
following three options:
New member,
Renewal,
Cancel membership.
60
Example: LMS
When the new member option is

selected,
The software asks details about the

member:
name,
address,
phone number, etc.
61
Example(cont.)
If proper information is entered,
A membership record for the member is

created
A bill is printed for the annual

membership charge plus the security
deposit payable.
62
Example(cont.)
If the renewal option is chosen,
LMS asks the member's name and his

membership number
checks whether he is a valid member.
If the name represents a valid member,
the membership expiry date is updated and

the annual membership bill is printed,
otherwise an error message is displayed.
63
Example(cont.)
If the cancel membership option is

selected and the name of a valid
member is entered,
The membership is cancelled,
A cheque for the balance amount due

to the member is printed
The membership record is deleted.
64
Decision Tree
Getdetails
Createrecord
Printbills
Newmember
User
input
Renewal
Cancel
Invalid
option
GetDetails
Updaterecord
Printbills
GetDetails
PrintCheque
Deleterecord
Printerrormessage
65
Decision Table
Decision tables specify:

Which
variables are to be tested
What
actions are to be taken if

the conditions are true,
The
order in which decision

making is performed.
66
Decision Table
A decision table shows in a tabular

form:
Upper rows of the table specify:
Processing logic and corresponding actions

The variables or conditions to be evaluated
Lower rows specify:
The actions to be taken when the

corresponding conditions are satisfied.
67
Decision Table
In technical terminology,
a
column of the table is called a

rule:
rule implies:
if a condition is true, then execute
the corresponding action.
68
Example:
Conditions
Valid selection
NO
New member
-- YES
Renewal -- NO YES
Cancellation
-- NO
Actions
Display error message
Ask member's name etc.
Build customer record -Generate bill
-Ask membership details
Update expiry date
-Print cheque
-- -Delete record
-- --
YES
NO
NO
NO
--
YES
NO
YES
--
------
YES
--
--
--
--
69
Comparison
Both decision tables and decision trees
Decision trees are easier to read and

understand
Can represent complex program logic.
When the number of conditions are small.
Decision tables help to look at every

possible combination of conditions.
70
Formal Specification
A formal specification technique

is a mathematical method to:
Accurately
specify a system.
Verify
that implementation
satisfies specification.
Prove
properties of the
specification.
71
Advantages:
Well-defined
semantics, no
scope for ambiguity
Automated
tools can check

properties of specifications
Executable
specification
72
Disadvantages of formal
specification techniques:
Difficult
to learn and use
Not
able to handle complex

systems
73
Mathematical techniques used

include:
Logic-based
set
theoretic
algebraic
finite
specification
state machines, etc.

74
Semiformal Specification
Structured specification languages
SADT (Structured Analysis and Design

Technique)
PSL/PSA (Problem Statement

Language/Problem Statement Analyzer)
PSL is a semi-formal specification

language
PSA can analyze the specifications
expressed in PSL
75
Executable Specification
Language
If specification is expressed in
formal language:
it
becomes possible to execute the

specification to provide a system
prototype.
However, executable
specifications are usually slow
and inefficient.
76
Executable Specification
Language
Executable specifications only

test functional requirements:
If
non-functional requirements
are important for some
product,
The utility of an executable

specification prototype is limited.
77
4GLs
4GLs (Fourth Generation

Languages) are examples of
executable
specification languages.
4GLs are successful

because
there is a lot of
commonality across data
processing applications.
78
4GLs
4GLs rely on software reuse
Where common abstractions have been

identified and parameterized.
Rewriting 4GL programs in higher level

languages:
Result in upto 50% lower memory

requirements
Also the programs run upto 10 times

faster.
79
Summary
Requirements analysis and specification
An important phase of software

development:
Any error in this phase would affect all

subsequent phases of development.
Consists of two different activities:
Requirements gathering and analysis
Requirements specification
80
Summary
The aims of requirements analysis:
Gather all user requirements
Clearly understand exact user requirements
Remove inconsistencies and incompleteness.
The goal of specification:
Systematically organize requirements
Document the requirements in an SRS

document.
81
Summary
Main components of SRS document:

Functional
requirements
Non-functional
requirements
Constraints
Techniques to express complex logic:

Decision
tree
Decision
table
82
Summary
Formal requirements
specifications have several
advantages.
But
the major shortcoming

is that these are hard to
use.
83

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Organization of this Lecture