Agile Functional Requirements Modeling from Goal-Oriented Requirements Engineering: A Systematic Mapping Study

Abstract

During the last two decades, the application of Goal-Oriented Requirements Engineering has increased in software projects, mainly because this approach is useful during the requirements analysis process and supports the realization of tasks such as requirements elaboration, validation, and planning, and can be used as part of the system life cycle, e.g. architecture and design of behavioral processes, coding, testing, monitoring, adaptation and evolution. Several approaches addressing goal-oriented requirements have already been proposed. Currently, there are several concerns about how to correctly adopt and implement it in current industrial contexts, such as agile approaches and, more specifically, its integration with user stories and acceptance criteria. This study presents a compilation of the current knowledge on adopting GORE in agile requirements specification through user stories and their acceptance criteria. A systematic mapping study guided by ten research questions was conducted, and nine primary studies were selected considering the selection criteria. The results obtained show some initiatives as goal-oriented modelling languages in different proposals for transforming goal-oriented models into user stories, among them: i* (i-star), Tropos, KAOS, GRL, AOM, and Goal Net. This study provides a solid basis for classifying existing and future approaches in the application of GORE. Researchers and practitioners can use this mapping to identify existing technical/research gaps to better address and assess their own contributions or understand existing ones.