Design for excellence in the context of very large-scale requirements engineering

The increasing complexity of software-intensive systems (SIS) has led to a completely new concept: Very Large-Scale Requirements Engineering (VLSRE), where the sheer number of requirements typically exceeds 10,000. Design for eXcellence (DfX) principles and their execution have been studied in different contexts for decades. However, DfX has not been in the focus of the Requirements Engineering (RE) process, and especially not in the VLSRE context. This paper addresses the DfX topic through an empirical study of the DfX RE-process and practices in a large global ICT organisation operating in the VLSRE mode. The result of this study is a conceptual framework that helps to overcome the challenges identified, leading towards changes in the operational procedures of the DfX RE-process, accommodating the requirements of very large-scale development. The piloting of the framework has been started in the case company, and initial feedback has been positive. The findings of this study offer new insights for scholars and practitioners.