A framework for analyzing and testing requirements with actors in conceptual graphs

B. J. Smith

Harry Delugach

pp. 401-412

in: Pascal Hitzler, Peter Øhrstrøm (eds), Conceptual structures: inspiration and application, Berlin, Springer, 2006

Abstract

Software has become an integral part of many people's lives, whether knowingly or not. One key to producing quality software in time and within budget is to efficiently elicit consistent requirements. One way to do this is to use conceptual graphs. Requirements inconsistencies, if caught early enough, can prevent one part of a team from creating unnecessary design, code and tests that would be thrown out when the inconsistency was finally found. Testing requirements for consistency early and automatically is a key to a project being within budget. This paper will share an experience with a mature software project that involved translating software requirements specification into a conceptual graph and recommends several actors that could be created to automate a requirements consistency graph.