Open innovation in software requirements engineering: A mapping study

Abstract

Background: Since 2003, when the concept of open innovation (OI) was introduced, OI has been applied in many industrial fields. Previous research indicates that the use of OI in computer science is less diverse than in other fields. Especially, the role of OI in software requirements engineering (RE) seems to be little explored. Goals: This study aimed to summarize the body of knowledge about the use of OI in the field of RE. More specifically, we analyzed what uses of OI in the context of RE have been reported and how OI has contributed to individual steps of the RE process. Method: We conduct a mapping study on the literature provided in four scientific databases (ISI Web of Science, IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library, and Science Direct). Results: We identified 20 relevant papers. We found: 1) 20 primary studies from the period 2003–2016 report on results about applying OI in RE. 2) Half of the studies report on the application of OI on RE as a whole. 3) Only one paper each is related to requirement prioritization and validation. 4) None of the primary studies presents a proprietary tool support for OI in RE. Only one study presents a method for automatic requirements extraction in OSS projects which can be implemented using standard machine learning tools. Conclusions: Acknowledging the lack of published research on the use of OI strategies in specific RE activities, i.e., prioritization and validation, as well as the lack of reported tool support, we see new opportunities for research on automated and thus non-intrusive and low-cost methods for applying OI strategies in RE.