Skip to main content

Use Case and Requirements Analysis in a Remote Rural Context in Mali

  • Conference paper

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNPSE,volume 7830))

Abstract

[Context & motivation] Few studies have reported on a systematic use case and requirements analysis of low-tech, low-resource contexts such as rural Africa. This, despite the widespread agreement on the importance of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for social and rural development, and despite the large number of ICT projects targeting underprivileged communities. [Question/problem] Unfamiliarity with the local context and differences in cultural and educational backgrounds between end-users and software engineers are the challenges for requirements engineering (RE) we encountered. [Principal ideas/results] We describe a systematic approach to RE in developing areas, based on the Living Lab methodology. Our approach is supported by extensive field research and based on co-creation within a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural team of developers and users. This approach creates a shared understanding of the problem and its local context, and optimizes communication. [Contribution] We illustrate the approach using a case study of web- and voice-based communication services, that we developed for a rural context in Mali.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. UNCTD Science and technology for development: the new paradigm of ICT. Information Economy Report 2007-2008, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  2. WSIS Declaration of Principles. World Summit on the Information Society. United Nations, New York (2005), http://www.itu.int/wsis/tunis

  3. Unwin, T. (ed.): ICT4D Information and Communication Technology for Development. Cambridge University Press (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  4. von Hippel, E.: Lead users: a source of novel product concepts. Management Science 32, 791–805 (1986)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Chesbrough, H.W.: Open Innovation: The new imperative for creating and profiting from technology. Harvard Business School Press, Boston (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Bilgram, V., Brem, A., Voigt, K.-I.: User-Centric Innovations in New Product Development; Systematic Identification of Lead User Harnessing Interactive and Collaborative Online-Tools. International Journal of Innovation Management 12(3), 419–458 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Stȧhlbröst, A.: Forming Future IT - The Living Lab Way of User Involvement. Doctoral Thesis Luleȧ University of Technology Department of Business Administration and Social Sciences. Division of Informatics (2008), http://epubl.ltu.se/1402-1544/2008/62/LTU-DT-0862-SE.pdf

  8. Bergvall-Kȧreborn, B., Ihlström-Eriksson, C., Stȧhlbröst, A., Svensson, J.: A milieu for innovation. In: 2nd ISPIM Innovation Symposium on Defining Living Labs (2009), http://pure.ltu.se/portal/files/3517934/19706123_paper.pdf

  9. Ruxwana, N.L., Herselman, M.E., Conradie, P.D.: ICT applications as e-health solutions in rural healthcare in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Health Information Management Journal 39(1), 17–29 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  10. van der Welt, J., Buitendag, A., Zaaiman, J., Jansen van Vuuren, J.C.: Community Living Lab as a Collaborative Innovation Environment. Issues of Information Science and Information Technology 6, 421–436 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Schwittay, A.: A Living Lab, Corporate Delivery of ICTs in Rural India. Science Technology Society 13-2, 175–209 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. FAO: Financing agriculture and rural development in Africa: Issues, constraints and perspectives. In: Twenty-third Regional Conference for Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa, March 1-5 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Reij, C., Tappan, G., Smale, M.: Agroenvironmental Transformation in the Sahel, Another kind of Green Revolution. IFPRI Discussion paper (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Akkermans, N.: The Role of ICTS in Knowledge Sharing within Rural Communities in Ghana. Intership MA International Relations. University of Groningen, ftp://akmc.biz/ShareSpace/W4RA-VOICES/Stageverslag

  15. de Boer, V., De Leenheer, P., Bon, A., Gyan, N.B., van Aart, C., Guéret, C., Tuyp, W., Boyera, S., Allen, M., Akkermans, H.: RadioMarché: Distributed voice- and web-interfaced market information systems under rural conditions. In: Ralyté, J., Franch, X., Brinkkemper, S., Wrycza, S. (eds.) CAiSE 2012. LNCS, vol. 7328, pp. 518–532. Springer, Heidelberg (2012)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  16. Akkermans, H., Grewal, A., Bon, A., Tuyp, W., Allen, M., Gyan, N.B.: W4RA-VOICES field report. Tech. rep., Web Alliance for Regreening Africa (2011), http://www.mvoices.eu/2011/03/25_Voices-W4RA_Public_Report.pdf

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Bon, A. et al. (2013). Use Case and Requirements Analysis in a Remote Rural Context in Mali. In: Doerr, J., Opdahl, A.L. (eds) Requirements Engineering: Foundation for Software Quality. REFSQ 2013. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 7830. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-37422-7_24

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-37422-7_24

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-37421-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-37422-7

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics