An event, activity and process based methodology for requirements elicitation and its application to an educational information system

When little attention is paid to requirements engineering, the software development effort faces myriad problems, ranging from incomplete requirements to inconsistent design and improper implementation. We look at one phase of requirements engineering: requirements elicitation. We propose a methodology that allows the requirements elicitor to bring forth the requirements in a methodical manner. It is domain specific and addresses information systems. We have borrowed certain concepts from system simulation (event, activity and process), in developing the methodology. Our methodology provides a mechanism by which the myriad operations of any information system are drawn forth and elicited appropriately using a two-model approach, viz. hierarchical process model. No assumption, however, is made as to how the analysis or design need be ultimately performed beyond the requirements elicitation phase. We use the illustrative example of a university´s information system to explain the use and efficacy of the methodology