Hybridized Ranking Model for Prioritizing Functional Software Requirements

Many difficulties exist when defining and deciding which requirements should be implemented first in an ultra-large-scale multi-stakeholder involved system. This often leads to system failure and product dissatisfaction. This paper established a suitable method supporting more precise and accurate decision-making in prioritizing requirements. The authors collected and analyzed a large number of software requirements in a case study, which was based on real-life practices and processes. Structured interviews and questionnaires were used to collect data from 600 stakeholders. They formulated a model based on the analyzed requirements using the CBRanking and the MACBETH approaches. They ranked the requirements and considered the requirements' relative importance according to the stakeholders' opinions. Thus, a hybridized mathematical model was proposed for prioritizing these functional requirements and evaluating its performance for consistency and completeness. The results showed the software's best functional requirements concerning the customers' expectations.