System Requirements Definition

Defining system requirements is the initial technical phase of system development. This chapter presents an overview of the integrated-iterative-incremental (I3) system development model and the example of applying I3 system. It provides the opportunity for readers to learn about system requirements definition process and taxonomy of requirements. The chapter also provides the capabilities-based approach to defining system requirements and the system requirements definition for the realistic corporation driving system simulator case study. In a capabilities-based approach to system development, system capabilities needed to satisfy stakeholders' requirements are identified and provide the basis for defining the system requirements. System capabilities thus provide the bridge from stakeholders' requirements to system requirements. The requirements taxonomy includes stakeholders' requirements, system capabilities derived from the stakeholders' requirements, and the system requirements needed to implement the system capabilities. System requirements can be categorized as primary requirements, derived requirements, design goals, and design constraints.