Requirements Capture Workflow in Global Information Systems

Requi emen s Cap u e Wo k low in Global In o ma ion Sys ems M.J. Escalona, J. To es, and M. Mejías Depa men o Compu e Languages and Sys ems, Uni e si y o Se ille Abs ac . The de elopmen o in o ma ion sys ems has changed a lo in he las yea s. Nowadays, applica ions a e o en de eloped in dis ibu ed en i onmen . I is qui e common, hey a e dis ibu ed ia In e ne and hey usually ha e hype media and mul imedia elemen s in huge da abases. They a e cha ac e ized by ha ing complex unc ional and secu i y equi emen s, many and unde ined use s who ha e di e en deg ee o knowledge. These sys ems a e named Global In o ma ion Sys ems. The de elopmen o hese complex global in o ma ion sys ems mus be like a so wa e p ojec , based on a de elopmen me hodology, o ge he applica ion sui able o he clien ’s equi emen s. This me hodology mus o e a igh ea men o all i s aspec s. Nowadays, he e is no s anda d me hodology which co e s all hese cha ac e is ics. On he one hand, he e a e some adi ional p oposi ions, like he Uni ied P ocess [11]. This is a good p oposi ion o wo k wi h s o age and unc ional equi emen s. On he o he hand, he e a e p oposi ions ha ha e come om he mul imedia en i onmen , like OOHDM [18], Hype -UML [14], WSDM [4], e c. which, al hough gi e mo e impo ance o he in e ace and na iga ion, don’ co e all he phases o he whole li e cycle. A e doing a compa a i e s udy o he mos ele an me hodologies o hype media and Web de elopmen published in he las ew yea s [7], we ha e made a me hodology p oposi ion o de elop global in o ma ion sys ems. This me hodology is based on he Uni ied P ocess, bu i adds new models and aspec s o ea co ec ly he na iga ion, he hype media and he in e ace. In his pape , we p esen a global ision o ou me hodology and we ocus on he p oposi ion o ge equi emen s om he use . To p esen he esul s, we apply he p oposi ion o a eal p oblem in a public company in Se ille. Keywo ds: Global In o ma ion Sys em, de elopmen me hodology, equi emen s, na iga ion, global in e ace. . 1 In oduc ion Nowadays, i a de elope wan s o apply a me hodology o de elop his global in o ma ion sys em, he has a lo o possibili ies. Global in o ma ion sys ems a e simila o classic managemen sys ems because bo h mus deal wi h complex s o age and unc ional equi emen s. So, he de elope could use an objec -o ien ed me hodology like RUP [2]. Howe e , global in o ma ion sys ems ha e some cha ac e is ics like na iga ion, in e ace o hype media, which need a special ea men . In his sense, he de elope could use a p oposi ion o hype media applica ions, like OOHDM, EORM, e c. Bu hese p oposi ions don’ co e he comple e li e cycle. They a e o en ocused on design and hey o ge o he phases like equi emen s cap u e o analysis. We ha e s udied he ac ual possibili ies ha a de elope has o apply o his global in o ma ion sys em. In able 1, we o e an abs ac o his s udy [7]. In his able, we can ead he name o he me hodology, i s e e ence and a sho desc ip ion. Also, we show wha li e cycle phases i ea s (R: Requi emen s cap u e; A: Analysis; D: Design; I: Implemen a ion; T: Tes s) and he aspec s which i co e s (S: S o age; F: Func ional; N: Na iga ion; I: In e ace; M: Mul imedia) In his able, we can obse e ha he e isn’ any p oposi ion which co e he whole li e cycle and deal wi h all global in o ma ion sys em cha ac e is ics. Howe e , hese p oposi ions o e models and echniques ha can be applied success ully. We ha e s udied all hese models and echniques o decide which a e he mos sui able. The e o e, we a e de eloping a new me hodological p oposi ion o global sys ems [6]. This p oposi ion akes some o hese models and echniques and p oposes o he s. The li e cycle o ou me hodology is qui e simple. Ou me hodology p oposes ha he p ojec li e is di ided in o i e wo k lows: equi emen s cap u e, analysis, design, implemen a ion and es . In each wo k low, ou me hodology p oposes di e en ac i i ies and asks o ea co ec ly he classic aspec s (s o age, unc ionali y, secu i y, e c.), as well as he mul imedia aspec s (in e ace, na iga ion, hype media, e c.). The i s wo k low o do is he cap u e and he de ini ion o equi emen s. In his pape , we would like o p esen his wo k low, namely, he ac i i ies o do, he echniques ha we ha e o apply and he s uc u e o he wo k low esul s. 2 Ge ing Requi emen s In global in o ma ion sys ems, he equi emen s cap u e is a c i ical wo k low because he es o he p ocess is based on i . In his wo k low, use s and de elope s mus decide wha he sys em mus o e . We ha e said ha global in o ma ion sys ems ha e some special cha ac e is ics: complex s o age and unc ionali y, na iga ion, in e ace and hype media. These special cha ac e is ics mus be de ined in he i s wo k low. The e o e, i ’s necessa y ha he me hodology o e a mechanism o de ine all hese aspec s. Howe e , his mechanism mus be simple enough o be unde s ood by he use as well as comple e enough o be use ul o he de elope . Table 1. Abs ac o he ac ual me hodology Phases Aspec sMe hodolo gy Desc ip ion RADI TS F NI M HDM [8] I p oposes a model o design hype media sys ems. I ’s based on ERD. XXXX RMM [9] I ’s a me hodology o design hype media sys em. I is based on HDM. XX X EORM [12] I ’s a me hodology o design hype media sys em. I has a ool o help he de elope . XXXX OOHDM [18][19][20 ] I ’s a me hodology o design hype media sys em. I o e s new models and qui e in e es ing echniques. XX X XXX WSDM [4] I ’s a me hodology o design kiosk web. I s design is based on he use XXX X X OO- Me hod [17] I ’s an en i onmen o de elop in o ma ion sys ems. X X X X X X SOHDM [12][21] I ’s a me hodology ha uses OOHDM, bu ha adds he scena io echnique o cap u e equi emen s o i . X XX XXXXX RNA [1] I ’s a p oposi ion o do he analysis in web in o ma ion sys ems. XXXX HFPM [16] I ’s a p oposi ion ha desc ibes wha p ocess mus be used o de elop web sys ems. XXXXXX XX RUP [2] I ’s he me hodology p oposed by he au ho s o UML XXXXXXX Building Web Applica io ns wi h UML [3] I ’s a p oposi ion which add some s e eo ypes o UML o design web in o ma ion sys ems. X XXX Ou p oposi ion is based on ge ing he sys em objec i es. S a ing om hem, he de elope has o de ine he in o ma ion s o age equi emen s, ha is, wha in o ma ion he sys em has o s o e. A e wa ds, ac o s, which a e going o in e ac wi h he sys em, mus be de ined, as well as he unc ionali y he sys em o e s hem, de ining he unc ional equi emen s. When he designe knows wha ac o s can do wi h he sys em, who can wo k wi h i and wha will be s o ed by he sys em, he in e ac ion equi emen s mus be iden i ied and desc ibed. The in e ac ion equi emen s cap u e how he in o ma ion will be p esen ed o he use and how ac o s will be able o use he sys em unc ionali y and o do que ies o he sys em. Finally, in his wo k low, non- unc ional equi emen s, like secu i y, communica ion aspec s, e c., mus be de ined. In igu e 1, a diag am o equi emen s cap u e wo k low is shown. Fig. 1. Requi emen cap u e squema In ou me hodology, in o de o p esen he esul o he clien , pa e ns ha e been de ined. These pa e ns o e a s uc u ed and comple e echnique, bu also easy o be in e p e ed by he clien . To p esen he di e en ac i i ies, we will use a eal example. A global in o ma ion sys em o sp ead ou and manage in o ma ion abou his o ic he i age. 2.1 Ac i i y 1- To De ine Objec i es and he En i onmen In his ac i i y, he de elope mus : ! S udy he en i onmen and he company. To ge ha , i ’s necessa y o ge b ochu es and o s udy old sys ems. This s udy isn’ necessa y when he de elope knows he company well. ! Do in e iews wi h inal use s in o de o ge hei necessi ies. Some in e iew echniques (JAD, B ains o ming, e c.) could be applied [5]. ! De ine he objec i es. When he de elope knows he necessi ies, he mus de ine he objec i es. In o de o desc ibe hem, a pa e n is used. In ou example, he p incipal sys em objec i e is o manage he in o ma ion o monumen s. In able 2, his objec i e desc ip ion is made using he pa e n. Table 2. An objec i e pa e n o ou example OBJ-01 To manage he in o ma ion o monumen s Desc ip ion The sys em mus le manage pa imonial in o ma ion. This in o ma ion is di ided in o: Iden i ica ion in o ma ion, which le s iden i y each monumen Desc ip ion in o ma ion, which desc ibes each monumen G aphical in o ma ion, which is a se o images o each monumen An iden i ie names each objec i e. This iden i ie s a s wi h OBJ, ollowed by a unique numbe . A desc ip ion o he objec i e mus be o e ed. 2.2 Ac i i y 2- To De ine S o age Requi emen s When we know wha we wan o ge , i ’s necessa y o de ine wha in o ma ion is s o ed by he sys em. To desc ibe his in o ma ion, we p opose o use ano he pa e n. So, ou example mus s o e he in o ma ion o monumen s. The use needs he name and he add ess o he monumen , i s ch onology, namely when i was buil ; i s au ho s, ha is who did i ; i s s yles, such as ba oque, go hic, e c.; i s ypology: a chu ch, a squa e, e c; and a lis o images whe e he monumen appea s. These a e i s speci ic da a. In he pa e n in able 3, we can ead he desc ip ion o his s o age equi emen . An iden i ie names each s o age equi emen , which s a s wi h “SR”, and a unique numbe ollows i . In he ‘associa ed objec i es’ ow, he de elope mus enume a e which objec i es a e go en (o a e pa ial go en) wi h his s o age equi emen . So, s o ing in o ma ion abou monumen s we ge a pa ial solu ion o manage he in o ma ion o monumen s. Table 3. A s o age equi emen desc ip ion SR-01 In o ma ion o he monumen Associa ed objec i es OBJ-01: To manage he in o ma ion o monumen s Desc ip ion The sys em mus s o e in o ma ion abou monumen s. Speci ically: Name and desc ip ion Na u e Name: I ’s he name o he monumen . S ing Add ess: I ’s he add ess o he monumen . S ing Ch onology: I ’s he da e when he monumen was buil Ch onology Au ho : I ’s a se o au ho s o c ea o s, who did he monumen o con ibu ed in i s building. S ing Ca dinali y: 0..n S yle: I ’s he se o he monumen s yles. S ing Ca dinali y: 0..n Typology: I ’s he se o he monumen ypologies. S ing Ca dinaly:0..n Speci ic da a Image: I ’s a se o images whe e he monumen appea s. Image Ca dinali y: 0..n In he nex ow, a desc ip ion is equi ed. A e ha , he speci ic da a a e desc ibed. Each piece o speci ic da a has a unique name, a desc ip ion and a na u e. The na u e is he abs ac ype o each piece: in ege , s ing, sound, image, e c. In ou me hodology, he e a e some p ede ined na u e, bu a mechanism o de ine new na u es is gi en. In his example, he e a e some speci ic da a wi h p ede ined na u e: s ing, images, e c. Bu he e is a new na u e, namely he ch onology. Each new na u e mus be desc ibed by ano he pa e n, in o de o cla i y i s meaning. In able 4, he Ch onology s uc u e is desc ibed. In his pa e n, we desc ibe he s uc u e o he na u e, i s ank and i s es ic ions. Table 4. A new na u e desc ip ion NA-01 Ch onology Field Na u e Beginning yea : I ’s he yea when he monumen was s a ed o build. Da e Fo ma : yyyy S uc u e Finished yea : I ’s he yea when he monumen was inished. Da e Fo ma : yyyy Rank Yea s can be posi i e (a. D.) o nega i e (b. C). In able 3, we can obse e ha some speci ic da a can ha e a ca dinali y. When a s o age equi emen can ha e mul iple alues o a piece o speci ic da a, we show he numbe o alues in he ca dinali y. So, a monumen can ha e 0 o an inde e mina e numbe o s yles o ypologies. 2.3 Ac i i y 3- To De ine Ac o s When he de elope knows wha he sys em has o s o e, he mus de ine who can use he applica ion. The e o e, he mus de ine ac o s. An ac o is a pe son, an ex e nal sys em o an ex e nal p ocess ha wo ks wi h he sys em. In his ac i i y, he de elope has o s a de ining basic ac o s. A basic ac o is a simple ole, which is iden i ied wi h a speci ic c i e ion. In ou sys em, we can classi y acco ding o wo c i e ia. On he one hand, we can classi y he ac o acco ding o his in es iga ion a ea. So we ha e: A chaeologis ( able 5) o A is ic. On he o he hand, we can classi y acco ding o he ac o ’s use in he sys em. So we ha e: Adminis a o o Gene al Use . An adminis a o is he pe son who can upda e and consul in o ma ion. A gene al use can only consul . In o de o de ine basic ac o s, he de elope has o do a pa e n. We p esen he A chaeologis desc ip ion in able 5. This ac o has a unique iden i ie : AC-01. In he second ow, objec i es ha a e associa ed wi h his ac o mus be enume a ed. A e wa ds, he used c i e ion o classi y his ac o mus be desc ibed. Finally, he de elope has o desc ibe he basic ac o . Table 5. A basic ac o de ini ion AC-01 A chaeologis Associa ed objec i es OBJ-01: To manage he in o ma ion o monumen s C i e ion This is a possible ac o in he sys em when we classi y use s acco ding o his in es iga ion a ea Desc ip ion The sys em mus o e a mechanism o wo k wi h a chaeologis s. An a chaeologis is a pe son who is in e es ed in a chaeologis monumen s. A e de ining basic ac o s, we mus s udy he incompa ibili y be ween hem. Two basic ac o s a e incompa ible when a use can’ use he sys em playing like bo h o hem. The e o e, in ou sys em, he same use can’ be an adminis a o and a gene al use , bu he could be an adminis a o and an A chaeologis a he same ime. In o de o de ine ac o s’ incompa ibili y, a ma ix mus be used. In able 6, we p esen ou sys em incompa ibili y ma ix. Table 6. An incompa ibili y ma ix Basic Ac o A chaeologis A is Adminis a o Gene al use A chaeologis - A is - Adminis a o - X Gene al use X - ‘X’ ep esen s he incompa ibili y be ween wo ac o s. So Adminis a o and Gene al use a e incompa ible. Some imes, he e a e o he e y impo an ac o s in he sys ems, which a e complex ac o s. A complex ac o is a ole, which is composed o wo o mo e ac o s (basic o complex). So, in ou sys em we mus ha e an a is ic- a chaeologis . I ’s an ac o who is an a chaeologis and an a is a he same ime. To de ine complex ac o s, we use a ma ix. In able 7, we show he complex ac o ma ix o ou sys em. Table 7. Complex ac o de ini ion Ac o Complex Ac o A chaeologis A is A chaeologis - A is Adminis a o Gene al use A chaeologis - A is ∧∧ A chaeologis - Adminis a o ∧∧ A chaeologis - A is - Adminis a o ∧∧∧∧ A is - Adminis a o ∧∧ ‘∧’ ep esen s ha he complex ac o in he ow akes he same ole as he ac o in he column. 2.4 Ac i i y 4- To De ine Func ional Requi emen s When he de elope knows wha he sys em s o es and who can use i , he mus de ine he sys em unc ionali y. To de ine unc ional equi emen s, we p opose o use he s anda d use cases [10]. I ’s no necessa y o explain wha i is. In ou example, we ha e a lo o use cases. One o hese is he use case which desc ibes how a use can in oduce a new monumen in o he sys em. A use case is composed o a diag am and a desc ip ion. In igu e 2 we show a use case diag am o his example. Table 8. A unc ional equi emen de ini ion FR-01 In oducing a new monumen Associa ed objec i es OBJ-01: To manage he in o ma ion o monumen s Desc ip ion The sys em has o do his use case when he use wan s o in oduce a new monumen in o he da abase P econdi io nThe use has o be an a ailable use in he sys em Ac o s AC-04: Adminis a o S ep Ac ion 1 Execu e he op ion “New”. 2 The sys em accep s he use . 3 The use in oduces he add ess o he monumen . 4 The sys em asks o he name o he monumen . 5 The use in oduces he name. 6 The sys em in oduces he new monumen in he da abase and he use is allowed o in oduce he in o ma ion o he monumen (images, ch onology, e c.). 7 The use in oduces he es o he in o ma ion. No mal sequence 8 The sys ems goes back o he main menu. Pos condi i on No hing S ep Ac ion 1 The use is no an a ailable use in he sys em, so he sys em doesn’ le in oduce a new monumen Excep ions 5 The monumen is al eady in he sys em. So an e o message is showed App oxima e equency 10 imes a mon h Each use case has o be desc ibed using a pa e n. In able 8, we desc ibe use case diag am in igu e 2. In his pa e n we mus iden i y he use case wi h a unique iden i ie (FR-01). We mus jus i y why his use case is de ined, he e o e i ’s necessa y indica e associa ed objec i es. A e wa ds, i ’s necessa y o do a desc ip ion and indica e he unc ional equi emen p econdi ion. In he ‘Ac o s’ ow, he de elope has o enume a e ac o s who can execu e his use case. To comple e he use case desc ip ion, no mal execu ion sequence, pos condi ion and excep ions o his use case mus be desc ibed. E en ually, i i ’s possible, he de elope has o gi e an app oxima e equency. Fig. 2. A use case diag am 2.5 Ac i i y 5- To De ine In e ac ion Requi emen s A his poin , he de elope knows wha he sys em has o s o e, who can use i and wha can be done wi h i , bu i isn’ enough. In global in o ma ion sys ems, in e ace and na iga ion a e c i ical aspec s, so we ha e o de ine how he in o ma ion will be p esen ed o he use . In o de o de ine his, he de elope has o de ine in e ac ion equi emen s using pa e ns again. Each in e ac ion equi emen is a node, in which speci ic in o ma ion is showed. In o ma ion in a node is abou a speci ic subjec . The e o e, in ou sys em we can de ine a node, which shows in o ma ion abou he iden i ica ion o monumen s. In his node, we mus show in o ma ion, which iden i ies he monumen : i s name, i s add ess and i s images. A unique iden i ie names each in e ac ion equi emen . In he pa e n o able 9 is IR-01. Fo each in e ac ion equi emen , he de elope has o enume a e he ac o s who can in e ac ua e wi h i . Mo eo e , a desc ip ion mus be de ined. I some en y pa ame e s a e necessa y in o de o show his equi emen , hey will be desc ibed in he ou h ow. In he ‘associa ed unc ionali y’ ow, he de elope mus enume a e unc ional equi emen s, which can be execu ed in his in e ac ion equi emen . A e wa ds, he de elope has o men ion speci ic da a o s o age equi emen s in o de o de ail he in o ma ion showed by he node. An in e ac ion equi emen can show speci ic da a o di e en s o age equi emen s and a piece o speci ic da a can be showed in di e en in e ac ion equi emen s. So, in his ow, we mus indica e he s o age equi emen iden i ie and he names o each piece o speci ic da a. E en ually, we mus indica e na iga ion. F om his in o ma ion equi emen , he use will be able o na iga e o o he in o ma ion equi emen s, so he de elope mus enume a e hem in he ‘Exi ’ ow. As he same ime, om o he in o ma ion equi emen s, he use can na iga e o his in o ma ion equi emen . Those a e enume a ed in he ‘En y’ ow. In ou example, he use can ge IR-01 in o ma ion equi emen om IR-03 and can na iga e om IR-01 o IR-02 oo. 2.6 Ac i i y 6- To De ine Non- unc ional Requi emen s To conclude, i could be possible ha he e a e o he equi emen s which a en’ s o age, unc ional o in e ac ion equi emen s. These a e non- unc ional equi emen s. In he las wo k low ac i i y, he de elope has o desc ibe o he equi emen s like secu i y, e iciency, e c. To desc ibe hese equi emen s, we p opose ano he pa e n.