A Tale of Requirements Computation in Two Projects: A Distributed Cognition View

For decades, the identification and management of design requirements have been recurring challenges for software development projects. As development practices have proliferated, research on requirements engineering has struggled to keep pace. In this study, we analyze requirements engineering as a socio-technical computational task in which individuals and artifacts collaboratively “compute” the design requirements for a software solution. Using distributed cognition theory, we analyze the requirements-oriented activities of two successful systems development organizations, each representing a distinct pattern of requirements computation. Our analysis of the computational structures employed in these organizations reveals that they are heavily influenced by their distinct environmental conditions which are associated with divergent requirements knowledge characteristics. Building upon these findings, we develop a cognition-oriented contingency model of RE practices. We conclude with implications for the future theorizing of requirements computation