S3C: Using service discovery to support requirements elicitation in the ERP domain

Abstract

Requirements Elicitation and Fit-Gap Analysis are amongst the most time and effort-consuming tasks in an ERP project. There is a potentially high rate of reuse in ERP projects as solutions are mainly based on standard software components and services. However, the consultants' ability to identify relevant components for reuse is affected by the increasing number of services available to them. The work described in this experience paper focuses on providing support for consultants to identify existing solutions informing system design. We report the development of a tool-supported approach called S3C, based on Microsoft Sure Step methodology and SeCSE open source service discovery tools. The S3C approach is tailored to the needs of SME companies in the ERP domain and overcomes limitations of Sure Step. The initial application and evaluation of the S3C approach also allows presenting lessons learned. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.