Generating domain-specific methodical knowledge for requirement analysis based on methodology ontology

Abstract

A methodology ontology is proposed to help requirement analysis. It helps the software engineer to generate methodical knowledge for requirement analysis (RA). It includes a method library and a set of modeling support entities. The method library contains method templates and components, e.g., primitive methods, inference functions, inference structures, domain models, and a domain ontology. The modeling support entities use the library to construct the desired methodical knowledge. An example is given showing how this approach constructs an object-oriented RA method. Thus generated methodical knowledge can be further coupled with domain knowledge to form a domain-specific RA tool, which relieves the software engineer of selecting and applying a distinct RA tool for a domain. This approach allows ready enhancement, since it is designed as an open architecture, which helps us to evolve it to assimilate new software methodology. © 1999 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.