Fagan Inspection: A Defects Finding Mechanism in Software Requirements Specification (SRS) Document

Authors

  • Muhammad Sohaib Yousaf Department of Computer Science, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
  • Saqib Ali Department of Computer Science, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
  • Qamar Nawaz Department of Computer Science, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
  • Salman Afsar Department of Computer Science, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
  • Imran Mumtaz Department of Computer Science, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
  • Nida Rashid Department of Computer Science, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21015/vtse.v10i1.920

Abstract

The preparation of Software Requirement Specification (SRS) document is a critical task as the successful completion of software depends heavely upon the SRS. The requirements gathering phase in Software Development Life Cycle SDLC is equally important as it witnesses the creation of an SRS document. The quality of an SRS document is dubious as there is a scarcity of proficient inspection methods for detecting the defects in the software. There are various reading based inspection techniques such as Checklist Based Reading technique (CBR), Defect Based Reading technique (DBR) and Perspective Based Reading technique (PBR). There are certain problems with these techniques such as the CBR only covers  potential types of defects, The DBR focused on various defects but the problem is that it is not structured in nature. Likewise, PBR is not suitable as it mainly focused on use-cases. As owing to the absence of a suitable inspection technique, the main focus of this study is to highlight the Fagan based inspection technique. This technique is not only formal and lightweight but it also overcome the limitations of reading base d techniques. The Fagan is a structured approach and finds defects in specification, programming code, design and also others during the SDLC. During analysis a questionnaire based survey is conducted in almost 300 national and international software industries. As a result, 150 responses are received. The likert scale is used for developing the questionnaire. SPSS tool is also utilized for data entry and analysis. The consequences are drawn by developing hypothesis and using the Chi-square test. More satisfactory results are gained at international level than at the national level. The satisfaction level of defect detection is 59.2%, time saved is 48.3% and cost reduction is 40.0%. Thus, the obtained outcome is positive and satisfies the requirements.

References

Tian J., Quality Assurance Alternatives and Techniques: A Defect Based Survey and Technique, 3(3), pp. 1-5, 2001.

Alshazly A. A., Elfatatry A. M., Abougabal M. S., Detecting Defects in Software Requirements Specification. Alexandria Engineering Journal, 53(3), pp. 513-27, 2014. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2014.06.001

Ibrahim N., Kadir W. M. N. W., Deris S., Halim S. A., Jurnal Teknologi, 13(10), pp. 21–28. 2015.

Fagan E. M., Advances in Software Inspections, IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, 12(7), pp. 744-75, 1986. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/TSE.1986.6312976

Hamid A. I. F. N., Hasan K., Quality Model for Telecommunication Industry in Malaysia. Jurnal Teknologi, 1(5), pp. 13–19, 2013.

Neill O., Issues in Software Inspection. IEEE Software, 14(1), pp. 18-19, 1997. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/52.566420

Jeary S., Phalp K., Milsom F., Hughes L., Webster S., Holroyd J., Can using Fagan Inspections improve the quality of specification in 2011? A Case Study, 2011.

Ferreira L. A., MacHado R. J., Silva J. G., Batista R. F., Costa L., Paulk M. C., An apporach to improving software inspections performance, IEEE International Conference on Software Maintenance, ICSM, 2010. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/ICSM.2010.5609700

Francisca O. O., Ebere U. G., Automated Visual Software Inspection System : Re-Making the Fagan Methodology, 4(1), pp. 19–24, 2014.

Capers J., Software Defect Removal and Origin Method, pp.1-31, 2012.

Tomar A., Thakare V. M., Identification and listing of factors affecting, pp. 43–47, 2012.

Rattan D., Bhatia R., Singh M., Software clone detection : A systematic review. Information and Software Technology, 55(6), 2013. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infsof.2013.01.008

Mustafa A. B., Ghafory H., Investigating the Inspection Effectiveness of Software Requirements Specification with UML Diagrams : A Concept Paper, 4(11), 2013.

Ali D., Javed A., Tanveer A., Saleem S., An Improved, Efficient and Cost Effective Software Inspection Meeting Process, International Journal of Modern Education and Computer Science, 5(2), pp. 48–54, 2013. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5815/ijmecs.2013.02.07

Nayak K. S., Khan R. A., Beg M. R., Requirement Defect Identification : An Early Stage Perspective, International Journal of Computer Science Issues, 9(5), pp. 237–243, 2012.

Suma V., Nair T. R. G., Four-Step Approach Model of Inspection {(FAMI)} for Effective Defect Management in Software Development, 2012.

Taba H. N., Ow S. H., Software Defect Management Using a Comprehensive Software Inspection Model, Software Engineering, 2(4), pp. 160–164, 2012.

Margarido L. I., Faria J. P., Vidal R. M., Vieira M., Information Systems and Technologies (CISTI), 2011 6th Iberian Conference on. IEEE, 1(1), pp.1–6, 2011.

Suma V., Nair T. R. G., Better defect detection and prevention through improved inspection and testing approach in small and medium scale software industry, International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management, 6(1), pp. 71–90, 2010. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1504/IJPQM.2010.033885

Shull F., Feldmann R. L., Seaman C., Regardie M., Godfrey S., Fully employing software inspections data, pp. 243–254, 2012. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11334-010-0132-1

Kollanus S., Koskinen J., Survey of Software Inspection Research, The Open Software Engineering Journal, 3(1), pp. 15–34, 2009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2174/1874107X00903010015

Nam J., Survey on Software Defect Prediction. Master’s Thesis. 2009.

Gursimran S. W., Jeffrey C. C., A systematic literature review to identify and classify software requirement errors, Information and Software Technology Journal, 51(7), pp. 1087-1109, 2009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infsof.2009.01.004

Aceituna D., Walia G., Do H., Lee S., Model-based requirements verification method : Conclusions from two controlled experiments. Information and Software Technology, 56(3), 321–334, 2014. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infsof.2013.11.004

Aurum A., Petersson H., Wohlin C., State-of-the-art : software inspections after 25 years, 154(2), pp. 133–154, 2002. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/stvr.243

Ahmed, K., Myers, T., Wen, L. and Sattar, M. Detecting Requirements Defects Utilizing A Mathematical Framework for Behavior Engineering, 3(3), 2013.

Liu S., Chen Y., Nagoya F., Mcdermid J. A., Formal Specification-Based Inspection for Verification of Programs, 38(5), pp. 1100–1122, 2012. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/TSE.2011.102

Shahid A. M. M., Sulaiman S., A Review of Software Operational Profile in Software Reliability Engineering. 8th Malaysian Software Engineering Conference, 1–6, 2014.

Saito S., Takeuchi M., Hiraoka M., Requirements Clinic : Third Party Inspection Methodology and Practice for Improving the Quality of Software Requirements Specifications, pp. 290–295, 2013. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/RE.2013.6636732

Saito S., Takeuchi M., Yamada S., Aoyama M., RISDM : A Requirements Inspection Systems Design Methodology, pp. 223–232, 2014.

Faisal M., Beg M. R., Sadia H., An Efficient Approach for Requirement Volatility Identification, 101(15), pp. 88-97, 2014. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5120/17767-8884

Yin Y., Feng Y., Zhang X., Song L., Analysis of Typical Defects in SRS by Taking the Recall Cases as Examples, 642(1), pp. 809–812, 2014. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.641-642.809

Rawat S. M., Dubey S. K., Software defect prediction models for quality improvement: A literature study. International Journal of Computer Science Issues, 9(5), pp. 288–296, 2012.

Achimugu P., Selamat A., Ibrahim R., Jurnal Teknologi, 9(11), pp. 127–137, 2015.

Downloads

Published

2022-03-05

How to Cite

Yousaf, M. S., Ali, S., Nawaz, Q., Afsar, S., Mumtaz, I., & Rashid, N. (2022). Fagan Inspection: A Defects Finding Mechanism in Software Requirements Specification (SRS) Document. VFAST Transactions on Software Engineering, 10(1), 46–55. https://doi.org/10.21015/vtse.v10i1.920