Articles

For more than twenty years, Rainer Grau has accompanied companies on their way enterprise agility. He supports companies in their efforts to continuously develop and create sustainable value for customers and employees. For him, it is particularly exciting to find out which methods, techniques and approaches are suitable for scaling agility and building the right product and the right service for the customer. Business analysis and requirements engineering are two essential disciplines in this context, which also generate high value in an agile setup - even if perhaps lived completely differently compared to a classic project approach.

Rainer's background of experience in business agility is based on his consulting work with companies from various industries. Stages of his professional life include Distinguished Consultant and Partner at Zühlke Engineering, Head of Business Development at digitec Galaxus, responsible for courses at universities of applied sciences on the topic of agility, founder of the Swiss Agile Leaders Circle, founder of Denkplan Verein and active involvement in communities around agility, business analysis and requirements engineering.

If there is still time left, Rainer Grau likes to spend it with his family, doing sports, playing his guitar and reading novels.

• Mission Possible
• Innovation Arena

Cristina Palomares is a PhD student in the Software Engineering for Information Systems Research Group (GESSI) at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC). Her PhD thesis deals about the construction, use and evolution of software requirement patterns for the reuse of requirements knoledge.

She has published several papers and presented posters and demos in requirements engineering conferences like in IEEE International Requirements Engineering Conference (RE) and the International Working Conference on Requirements Engineering: Foundation for Software Quality (REFSQ). She is the coordinator of developers of the PABRE System for supporting requirements reuse.

• What is the Relevance of Requirements Engineering Research to Practitioners?
• Requirements Reuse

Dr. Carme Quer is associate professor in the Service and Information System Engineering department (ESSI) at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC). She is member of the Software Engineering for Information Systems Research Group (GESSI) at the UPC. Her main research lines are requirements engineering and software quality.

She has published several papers in requirements engineering conferences like in the IEEE International Requirements Engineering Conference (RE) and the International Working Conference on Requirements Engineering: Foundation for Software Quality (REFSQ). She was General Chair of the Workshop on Requirements Engineering (WER) held in 2008.

• What is the Relevance of Requirements Engineering Research to Practitioners?
• Requirements Reuse

Xavier Franch is Professor at the Universitat Politècnica de Barcelona (UPC-BarcelonaTech), Spain. He is Council Member and Full Member of the IREB association. He has published over 200 peer-reviewed papers in conferences and journals, many of them related to requirements engineering. He was Program Co-Chair of the RE’16 and REFSQ’11 conferences, and he belongs to the Editorial Board of the Requirements Engineering Journal (Springer) and Information Software and Technology (IST) journals, among others. He is coordinator of the Q-Rapids project and participates in the OpenReq project, both in the H2020 programme. He organizes workshops concerning requirements engineering for NLP4RE, CrowdRE, JIT-RE and others.

• What is the Relevance of Requirements Engineering Research to Practitioners?
• Requirements Reuse

Having finished her diploma in quantum optics Maria-Therese Teichmann couldn’t resist meeting the complex challenges of Information Technology. For fifteen years she has been working at Software Daten Service GmbH as a business analyst and quality manager in banking software. Her focus there are long term quality decisions, which nowadays are more and more difficult to argue against business interests. Besides the business job she loves to work at the University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien, was part of a gender project and offers classes in software evolution, relational databases and Software Engineering topics.

• Gender Studies

Eva Gebetsroither works as a Senior Technical Translator in the localisation team of Software Daten Service GmbH. Apart from translations and terminology management she is responsible for language quality assurance. Within the framework of her field of activity there are numerous connections to Requirements Engineering. As an expert in the area of languages and communication she focuses on the role of natural language in Requirements Engineering.

• Gender Studies

After graduating in Communication Science with a focus on public relations and corporate communications in Salzburg and Shanghai, Corinna Unterfurtner finished the MBA in General Management with a focus on coaching, training and education. Corinna collected practical experience as a project manager at the University of Salzburg. Now she is responsible for project and requirements management, the training of new customers and support requests at an ERP business software for SME. Additionally she supports customers in process optimization and workflow design with the help of HELIUM V.

• Gender Studies

Alexandra Kreuzeder is the project manager of "ditact women's IT summer studies", that is part of the ICT&S Center of the University of Salzburg. She graduated at the University of Vienna in Sociology in 1997. Focusing on the processes of socialization, she started in 1998 a year-long research project concerning the gender socialization processes of girls and boys in kinder gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark. Returning to Salzburg in August 1999 she worked in the field of Internet Technology and was project manager of the ditact_women's IT summer university. From March 2011-November 2012 she took a time out to build up her own company "Salzburg Coaching" that offers communication and stress reduction training. Since last year she has shared the management of the ditact summer university with Carina Bachinger from the ICT&S Center.

• Gender Studies

Dr. Michael Jastram is an expert model-based systems engineering (MBSE), with a focus on requirements. He has over 20 years experience in software development and requirements engineering, which he regularly shares as author and public speaker. Amongst other things, he publishes weekly updates on Systems Engineering Trends [German] and monthly updates on Requirements Engineering [English].

Michael is a leader in open source requirements management, being project lead of the Eclipse Requirements Modeling Framework. He is also a strong advocate of open standard and actively contributes to the OMG Requirements Interchange Format (ReqIF).

Today, he is founder and principal systems engineer of Formal Mind GmbH, a service provider in Open Systems Engineering.

You can connect digitally with Michael via his Blog [en] | Blog [de] | Twitter | LinkedIn | Xing.

• What is a Useful Perspective in Considering Requirements Engineering Relative to Systems Engineering?
• Modeling Requirements with Constraints
• Open Up

Dr. Sebastian Adam received his Master of Science degree (“German Diplom”) in Computer Science from the Technical University of Kaiserslautern, Germany in 2005 and joined the Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering (IESE), Kaiserslautern, Germany in the same year. Since then, he is working there as a consultant, project leader and researcher for requirements engineering (RE) and has been coordinating and managing several national and international research and industry projects in the area of RE. Since 2011, he is leading the requirements engineering team at Fraunhofer IESE. In 2012, he received his Doctor degree (Dr.-Ing.) from the Technical University of Kaiserslautern. His work expertise and specific interests lie in the integration of requirements engineering with business process management, in lean requirements engineering as well as automatic requirements engineering by social media and mining technologies. Contact him at Fraunhofer IESE, Fraunhofer-Platz 1, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany, sebastian.adam@iese.fraunhofer.de

• TORE

Norman Riegel is a Consultant, Project Manager and Researcher for Requirements Engineering at the Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering (IESE), Kaiserslautern, Germany. Je joined Fraunhofer IESE in 2007, after having received his diploma in business informatics with a focus on logistics and industrial management by the University of Mannheim, Germany. He has been consulting industrial companies in finance, insurance, logistics, medical, social media, public and other domains. He is conducting trainings, tutorials and lectures in requirements engineering. In his role as a researcher he is contributing to national and international research projects and is author of more than 20 peer reviewed publications. His research interests include lean requirements engineering, the integration of requirements engineering and business process management, prioritization and decision support. Contact him at Fraunhofer IESE, Fraunhofer-Platz 1, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany, norman.riegel@iese.fraunhofer.de

• TORE

Dr. Joerg Doerr is head of the Information Systems division at the Fraunhofer Institute Experimental Software Engineering (IESE) in Kaiserslautern, Germany. Before, he was head of the Requirements and Usability Engineering department. His work areas include all software engineering areas for informations systems, with a special focus on requirements engineering, especially non-functional requirements. He received his master of science and PhD in Computer Science from the University of Kaiserslautern, Germany.  He leads diverse Training, industrial Technology-transfer and Research projects. He is lecturer at the University of Kaiserslautern, author of more than 60 peer reviewed publications and member in many international and national program committees. 2013, he was Co-Chair of the REFSQ 2013 conference on Requirements Engineering: Foundation for Software Quality.  He is member in the German computer science society. Contact him at Fraunhofer IESE, Fraunhofer-Platz 1, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany, joerg.doerr@iese.fraunhofer.de

• TORE

Hans van Loenhoud MSc is a consultant and teacher at Taraxacum in the Netherlands. He has been working in software development for more than 35 years, starting as a Cobol programmer and later on specialized in test and quality management.
In this role, he has been teaching various ISTQB test courses and has been chair of TestNet, the Dutch association of professional software testers. In recent years, he joined IREB to build a bridge between software testing and requirements engineering. He gives various Business Analysis, Requirements Engineering and Software Testing trainings. Hans is also a lecturer at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences for these topics and participates in the IREB advanced level Elicitation working group.

• On the right track
• The goal is to solve the problem
• Translating Exam Questions

After studying physics in Germany and New Zealand, Gunnar Harde worked as software engineer, later as IT consultant and project manager for IT and business consultancies and research institutes. Since 2007 he is responsible for the development of several IT systems of the Group Quality Assurance at Volkswagen and shapes the cooperation between IT and business department strategically and methodically. Harde is Certified Scrum Product Owner and expert in agile management.

• Managing the Invisible
• Agility and Obligation
• Agility and Obligation

After studying physics in Germany and New Zealand, Gunnar Harde worked as software engineer, later as IT consultant and project manager for IT and business consultancies and research institutes. Since 2007 he is responsible for the development of several IT systems of the Group Quality Assurance at Volkswagen and shapes the cooperation between IT and business department strategically and methodically. Harde is Certified Scrum Product Owner and expert in agile management.

• Managing the Invisible
• Agility and Obligation
• Agility and Obligation

Stefan Meier is passionate about exploring and experimenting with new Requirements Engineering practices and methodologies. He many years of practical experience as Project Manager, Requirements Engineer  and Agile Coach. He loves talking to different stakeholders and sharpening their ideas and visions to get a crisp and clear understanding of their needs and values. 
He works at SPF Consulting and currently helps customers switching their requirements frameworks from waterfall processes towards agile approaches like Scrum. Additionally he is an conversant trainer for IREB CPRE FL, Visual Facilitation and Agile Requirements.

• Applying IREB RE practices in an agile environment

(born 1971) in Hannover teaches requirements engineering for more than 10 years at the Hochschule Hannover (University of applied sciences and arts, Hannover, Germany) he is visiting professor at Frankfurt School of Finance and Management.
Besides the academic qualification Lars holds certificates at IREB CPRE foundation level and is a member of the IREB Advance modeling group. In addition to that he holds the PMI P.M.P. (Project Management Professional) and A.C.P. (Agile Certified Practitioner) certification.
Lars Baumann has more than 20 years of experience in the field of international project management, and requirements engineering trainings. He actively works as a consultant for many clients in Germany and internationally.

Contact: Hochschule Hannover – Fakultät IV Wirtschaft und Informatik
Mail: Lars.Baumann@hs-hannover.de

• Requirements Engineering Workshop in Mozambique

(Born 1997) a student at the KKS Hannover, uses Java, C and C++ and is currently managing projects such as the development of a computer game using the Unreal Engine 4, building and programming an Arduino-Robot. In addition to that he is a voluntary member in VDini supporting scientific projects with young students.
Furthermore he spent a year abroad in New Zealand in 2013, where he went to the Te-Puke High School. He is a voluntary tutor for refugees from Syria and did voluntary work at the Struwig National Resort next to Kruger Park in South-Africa.

Contact : Henrik_Baumann@hotmail.com

• Requirements Engineering Workshop in Mozambique

Dipl.-Ing. Oliver Stypa is head of the consulting department at Gemini Business Solutions GmbH, Aachen (Germany).

As a Mechanical Engineer (Dipl.-Ing.) from RWTH Aachen University (Germany) and IREB-CPRE, Mr. Stypa focuses on RE in manufacturing industry sectors. Understanding both worlds of mechanical engineers and software developers he successfully combines advantages of software based Requirements Engineering methodology and conventional machine development processes to improve development projects in integrated industries.

• The Context-Canvas

Sebastian Schlaus, B.Sc. is a strategy and production management expert in the consulting department at Gemini Business Solutions GmbH, Aachen (Germany).

Mr. Schlaus is a Business Administrator and Mechanical Engineer (B.Sc.) from RWTH Aachen University (Germany) and IREB-CPRE. As such, he focuses on strategic and production management in the international industry and entrepreneurial contexts. His background in the fields of engineering, industrialization and management enriches the team’s diverse composition by ensuring lean processes.

• The Context-Canvas

Joy Beatty is a VP at Seilevel, a professional services company whose mission is to define software that customers love to use. Joy implements new methodologies that improve the requirements process. Her team provides assessments, mentoring, training and consulting services for F1000 companies.

Joy is actively involved as a leader in the requirements community. She was a co-author of PMI’s Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide, as well as being on the core team for the IIBA’s Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK) version 3. She is also a contributing author to “The Guide to Business Analysis” which “Includes the Standard for Business Analysis” by PMI. She co-authored Visual Models for Software Requirements with Anthony Chen and Software Requirements, 3rd Edition with Karl Wiegers.

• Making “agiLE” Work
• Project Value Delivered

Candase is a Product Manager at Seilevel. As a trainer and a practitioner, she helps ensure her clients’ software projects deliver the most return on investment, and helps define the problems their projects are trying to solve. She has provided training for business analysts in F300 companies, as well as assisting in the development of Seilevel training material. She also provided editorial contributions to both Visual Models for Software Requirements and Software Requirements, 3rd Edition.

• Making “agiLE” Work
• Project Value Delivered

Karol Frühauf is co-founder of INFOGEM AG in Switzerland, since 1987 consulting in the field of software project and quality management (http://www.infogem.ch). He worked 12 years for BBC Brown Boveri & Cie and helped since 1987 many companies to improve their processes and products. He co-authored two books and is a frequent speaker, tutor and teacher in the field of software engineering. His main interests are test and quality management and requirements engineering.
He initiated and directs the "Bridge Guard Art / Science Residence Centre" in Štúrovo, Slovakia (http://www.bridgeguard.org).

• Sharing My Doubts on the Focus of Requirements
• Sharing My Doubts on Goals and Requirements
• Sharing My Doubts on Shall / Should / Will etc.
• Sharing My Doubts on Acceptance Criteria

Hans van Loenhoud MSc is a consultant and teacher at Taraxacum in the Netherlands. He has been working in software development for more than 35 years, starting as a Cobol programmer and later on specialized in test and quality management.
In this role, he has been teaching various ISTQB test courses and has been chair of TestNet, the Dutch association of professional software testers. In recent years, he joined IREB to build a bridge between software testing and requirements engineering. He gives various Business Analysis, Requirements Engineering and Software Testing trainings. Hans is also a lecturer at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences for these topics and participates in the IREB advanced level Elicitation working group.

• The goal is to solve the problem

Dr. Kim Lauenroth is Chief Requirements Engineer and leads a competence centre for requirements engineering at adesso AG.

He has over 10 years of experience in software and requirements engineering in different domains. He regularly speaks at internal conferences in the topic of RE. Within IREB, he is involved in the development of the advanced level module Elicitation & Consolidation.

Kim received his PhD in the field of requirements engineering from the University of Duisburg-Essen and studied computer science, business administration and psychology at the University of Dortmund.

• The goal is to solve the problem

Dr. Patrick Steiger, based in Switzerland, leads the requirements engineering activities of Infometis AG and is a part-time teacher at the MAS HCID (Human-Computer Interaction Design) which is provided as a cooperation of University of Basle and HSR Hochschule für Technik Rapperswil.
Since more than 20 years he works as a consultant in software engineering projects, focusing on requirements engineering. His PhD was on the topic of “Personal Risk Management”, which already at that time addressed problems and goals of individuals.

• The goal is to solve the problem

Thijmen works as IT architect at Kommuninvest acting as technical lead for its digitalization initiative and growing CI/CD and Agile practice in the company. His work on the mini-QAW started in his role as researcher at ABB, where he worked on software architectures with colleagues around the globe. He authored publications at leading international software conferences, receiving two best paper awards. Thijmen graduated cum-laude in software engineering from VU University in the Netherlands and Malardalen University in Sweden.

• Discover Quality Requirements with the Mini-QAW

Michael Keeling is a software engineer at LendingHome and the author of Design It! From Programmer to Software Architect. In his career so far, he has worked on a variety of interesting software systems including IBM Watson, enterprise search applications, financial platforms, and Navy combat systems. Michael has a master’s degree in software engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the College of William and Mary. Contact him via Twitter @michaelkeeling or his website, https://www.neverletdown.net

• Discover Quality Requirements with the Mini-QAW

Will Chaparro is a software development manager in IBM’s Watson Group. He spent over 5 years designing and building complex enterprise search solutions as a managing consultant. Prior to IBM he spent 11 years as a software engineer. He has a BS in Computer Science from the University of Pittsburgh.

• Discover Quality Requirements with the Mini-QAW

Jason Hansen obtained a BS in Chemical Engineering from Michigan Tech. He left the work force in 2005 to focus on raising an adopted special needs daughter. In 2015, he decided to return to school and obtained his AAAS in Network Admin. He is working as a tutor at GRCC while pursuing a Master’s Degree in Computer Software Engineering at GVSU.

• Challenges in the elicitation and determination of precise requirements from animal stakeholders

Grigory Grin is a Chief Software Architect at Axinom – software supplier for Media- and In-Flight Entertainment solutions based in Germany and Estonia.
Grigory studied mathematics and graduated from the Ural State University in Russia in 1995. During his 25 years career on the software development field, Grigory had responsibilities in a broad range of roles – Development, Architecture, Business Analysis, Project Management. His main strengths are in alignment between the customer needs and contractors technical capabilities and solution portfolio to deliver the highest business value.
As a practitioner, Grigory has successfully led multiple multi-million euro projects for world-known brands in the aerospace industry with significant challenges on the field of Requirements Engineering.

• When the rubber hits the road

Luisa Mich is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at the University of Trento, Italy. Her research interests include requirements engineering, creativity and web strategies. She is an author of more than 150 papers.
 

• Interview with John Mylopoulos
• Requirements Elicitation (ReqElic) in My Company

Gil Regev has been a researcher at EPFL since 1997 in the fields of enterprise information systems, requirements engineering, change management and knowledge management. Since 2008 he is also manager and consultant at Itecor, a boutique consultancy firm. Previously Gil developed software for computer peripherals at Logitech, in Switzerland and California.

• A General Systems Thinking Perspective on the CPRE

Alain Wegmann is a full professor at the School of Computer and Communication Sciences, EPFL, Switzerland. He worked 14 years for Logitech (Switzerland, Taiwan, US) in positions ranging from software developer, IS manager, manufacturing engineering to VP of engineering and OEM marketing before joining the EPFL in 1997. His teaching, consulting and research are in the fields of enterprise architecture, requirements engineering and service engineering.

• A General Systems Thinking Perspective on the CPRE

Olivier Hayard has been a consultant and in charge of IT and Knowledge Management at Itecor, a boutique consultancy firm, since 1993. Olivier’s main interests are business analysis and requirements management, as practitioner, trainer and researcher.

• A General Systems Thinking Perspective on the CPRE