Comparing and reconciling usability-centered and use case-driven requirements engineering processes

Abstract

During the two last decades, the human-computer interaction community has developed a large variety of techniques and tools for gathering, specifying and validating usability requirements including user characteristics, tasks, work environment as well as usability goals such as effectiveness, efficiency and user satisfaction. Unfortunately, even if their importance are accepted by software developers, they are not yet cost-effectively integrated into software engineering methodologies. This paper presents the rationale for our ACUDUC approach by identifying the different issues for enhancing the use case-driven software requirements approach with RESPECT, one of the most advanced frameworks for user-centered requirements. Beyond this specific example (use cases and RESPECT), our investigations aim to reconcile user-centered and use case-driven requirements engineering and to cross-pollinate software engineering and usability engineering.