Towards the Proper Integration of Extra-Functional Requirements

Abstract

In spite of the many achievements in software engineering, propertreatment of extra-functional requirements (also known as non-functionalrequirements) within the software development process is still achallenge to our discipline. The application of functionality-biasedsoftware development methodologies can lead to major contradictionsin the joint modelling of functional and extra-functional requirements.Based on a thorough discussion on the nature of extra-functionalrequirements as well as on open issues in coping with them, thispaper emphasizes the role of extra-functional requirements in thesoftware development process. Particularly, a framework supportingthe explicit integration of extra functional requirements into aconventional phase-driven process model is proposed and outlined.