6 - Using Knowledge Distribution in Requirements Engineering

Abstract

Requirements engineering is one of the most important stages of systems development. Stating correct requirements is a precondition for the system to be delivered in time, successfully maintained, and properly used. The term “requirements engineering” itself illustrates the systematic nature of this activity. It prescribes viewing requirements as a system that is embedded in another system (an application organization or enterprise) and its environment. The application enterprise and its environment are considered as a domain of discourse with respect to the definition of requirements. Various kinds of business processes in enterprises are becoming so complex that they are consistently pushing sophisticated information technology tools and techniques to new frontiers. There is a growing demand to transform vast quantities of data and information into “decision quality” knowledge—a move toward a knowledge-based environment. This brings into prominence the necessity to establish the role and importance of the emerging methodology of knowledge management. Knowledge management is the formal management of knowledge to facilitate the creation, identification, acquisition, development, distribution, utilization, and preservation of an enterprise's knowledge using advanced information technology.