Benefits of DfX in Requirements Engineering

Jari Lehto, Janne Harkonen, Harri Haapasalo, Pekka Belt, Matti Mottonen, Pasi Kuvaja

.

DOI: 10.4236/ti.2011.21004                

Abstract

Information and communications technology (ICT) companies have realised how acknowledging the needs of both internal and external customers is a necessity for successful requirements engineering. Design for X (DfX) is a potential management approach for coordinating & communicating requirements emerging from both internal functions and external supply chain partners. This article studies the potential of DfX for improved requirements engineering. Qualitative interviews are utilised to analyse how different organisations implement the concept, including designers’ actual work, methods & tools, and organisational aspects. The results include viewing DfX as means to achieve relevant competitive goals, and describing how different companies organise these activities, together with their benefits for modern ICT companies. This study highlights how the DfX concept can be used to manage, prioritise and to better communicate

Keywords

Design for X, ICT, Design for Excellence, Requirements Engineering, Requirements, Industrial Management, Product Development, Delivery Capability, Management, Communication, Technology, Competitive Goals

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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