论文标题
在实践中理解和管理需求工程债务的初始理论
An initial Theory to Understand and Manage Requirements Engineering Debt in Practice
论文作者
论文摘要
背景：技术债务研究的进步证明了应用金融债务隐喻来支持软件开发活动中的决策的好处。尽管需求工程期间的决策产生了重大影响，但需求工程中的债务比喻不足。目的：我们旨在通过组织与从业人员的理解和管理需求工程债务（RED）相关的概念来概念化债务隐喻如何应用于要求工程。方法：我们进行了两次深入的专家访谈，以确定关键要求工程债务概念并构建一个调查工具。我们调查了全世界69名从业人员对他们对概念的看法，并开发了初始分析理论。结果：我们提出了一种红色理论，该理论将技术债务研究中的关键概念保持一致，但强调了需求工程的特定性质。特别是，该理论由23个可伪造的命题组成，这些命题来自文献，访谈和调查结果。结论：要求工程债务的概念被认为与其技术债务对应物相似。然而，在实践中，测量和跟踪要求工程债务并不成熟。我们提出的理论是该领域进一步研究的第一个指南。
Context: Advances in technical debt research demonstrate the benefits of applying the financial debt metaphor to support decision-making in software development activities. Although decision-making during requirements engineering has significant consequences, the debt metaphor in requirements engineering is inadequately explored. Objective: We aim to conceptualize how the debt metaphor applies to requirements engineering by organizing concepts related to practitioners' understanding and managing of requirements engineering debt (RED). Method: We conducted two in-depth expert interviews to identify key requirements engineering debt concepts and construct a survey instrument. We surveyed 69 practitioners worldwide regarding their perception of the concepts and developed an initial analytical theory. Results: We propose a RED theory that aligns key concepts from technical debt research but emphasizes the specific nature of requirements engineering. In particular, the theory consists of 23 falsifiable propositions derived from the literature, the interviews, and survey results. Conclusions: The concepts of requirements engineering debt are perceived to be similar to their technical debt counterpart. Nevertheless, measuring and tracking requirements engineering debt are immature in practice. Our proposed theory serves as the first guide toward further research in this area.
