Contribution structures [Requirements artifacts]

The invisibility of the individuals and groups that gave rise to requirements artifacts has been identified as a primary reason for the persistence of requirements traceability problems. The paper presents an approach based on modelling the dynamic contribution structures underlying requirements artifacts, which addresses this issue. It shows how these structures can be defined, using information about the agents who have contributed to artifact production, in conjunction with details of the numerous traceability relations that hold within and between artifacts themselves. It further outlines how the approach can be implemented, demonstrates the potential it provides for "personnel-based" requirements traceability, and discusses issues pertinent to its uptake.