Non-functional requirements analysis: deficiencies in structured methods

This paper examines some deficiencies in structured systems development met hods that have the effect of overlooking non-functional requirements. Evide nce from four case studies shows that non-functional requirements arc often overlooked, questioning users is insufficient, methodologies do not help i n the elicitation of non-functional requirements and there is a lack of con sensus about the meaning and utility of non-functional requirements. Some l essons are drawn from the domain of real time systems development. Finally a framework is advanced for taking a stakeholder approach to the conflict a nd organisational change issues associated with the elicitation stage of re quirements analysis. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.