Managing Software Requirements Risks with Software Development Impact Statements

Defining software requirements is a difficult and complex process. It is best characterised as a joint learning process in which shared understandings evolve through dynamic interactions between clients and developers. The inherent difficulties in this complex process are exacerbated in outsourced software development projects. In this paper we review the use of Software Development Impact Statements (SoDIS) to improve the quality of software in two outsourced software development projects. Our progressive refinement of the SoDIS process is discussed and we introduce the notion of a SoDIS inspection. The paper demonstrates the value contributed by the SoDIS process through highlighting critical issues, and the resulting modifications to specified requirements, project definitions and contractual documents. We conclude by recommending the wider application of the SoDIS process to all software development projects, given its demonstrated contribution in the extreme context of outsourced development projects.