A DEA framework to assess the efficiency of the software requirements capture and analysis process

In this paper a theoretical framework to assess the efficiency of the Requi rements Capture and Analysis (RCA) process in software development is intro duced. Although it is widely recognized that successful implementation of t he first stages of the software development process is critical for the ove rall development process, RCA efficiency assessments have not been given mu ch attention. The presented theoretical framework to assess RCA efficiency follows a production approach to model the early stages of a software proje ct. An approach based on Data Envelopment Analysis that utilizes the propos ed framework to isolate the effects of exogenous factors, such as the envir onment or the type of project, on the project's RCA efficiency is also pres ented. Finally, the applicability of the methodology through an exploratory empirical study is demonstrated, and managerial implications are discussed .