A framework for iterative, interactive analysis of agent-goal models in early requirements engineering

Abstract

The early stage of domain analysis in requirements engineering is critical for understanding the stakeholders, their needs, problems, and how views of these problems differ. We advocate methods for early domain exploration which provoke iteration over captured knowledge, prompting analysts and stakeholders to review what is known, helping to guide elicitation, and facilitating early scoping and decision making. Specifically, we provide a framework to support interactive, iterative analysis over goal- and agent-oriented (agent-goal) models. The framework will allow for multiple types of analysis questions, manage alternative evaluations over a model, manage interactive results, capture model assumptions and arguments, and support iteration over all constructs. Initial case study experience shows that interactive evaluation provokes model iteration and domain exploration. Further case studies will be developed to test the benefits of framework expansions.