Requirements management in practice: findings from an empirical study in the automotive industry

This paper presents an empirical study carried out in the automotive industry, with the aim to bring forward new experiences and knowledge on management of requirements in practice. Adopting a qualitative systems approach, and using multiple information sources, the requirements management process during the development of a passenger car cockpit has been mapped out. More specifically, the intention has been to identify and describe progress, changes, deviations, and compromises regarding the requirements and their fulfilment linked to the different phases of the product development. The logical reconstruction of the requirements management process is complemented with broad descriptions of associated phenomena, such as important events, organisational structures, competences, and attitudes. Findings are presented, analysed and discussed considering also factors underlying observed phenomena. Accompanying the empirical findings, the paper concludes with recommendations for constructive and efficient requirements management in practice