Skip to main content

Towards a More Cognitively Effective Business Process Notation for Requirements Engineering

  • Conference paper

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNISA,volume 8463))

Abstract

We are developing a semi-formal business process modeling notation based on the modification of theatrical blocking notation that is more cognitively effective for application in requirements engineering communication than extant notations. The Socio-Technical System Notation (STSN) incorporates ontological, semantic, and visual design improvements over extant languages that were pinpointed by prior research as areas for improvement to existing notations, such as the UML and BPMN, for the purpose of reducing the likelihood of errors and misinterpretation during the encoding and decoding processes. The research-in-progress paper follows a design science research approach to motivate the development of the STSN, to present a prototype of the notation, and to set the stage for the empirical evaluation of the language based on its design objectives. The research presents a process notation that enables the encoding of more detailed requirements information into a visual representation than extant notations.

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. van Lamsweerde, A.: Requirements engineering: From system goals to UML models to software specifications. John Wiley, Chichester (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Wand, Y., Weber, R.: Research commentary: Information systems and conceptual modeling–a research agenda. Information Systems Research 13(4), 363–376 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Davidson, E.J.: Technology frames and framing: A socio-cognitive investigation of requirements determination. MIS Quarterly 26(4), 329–358 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Gemino, A., Wand, Y.: A framework for empirical evaluation of conceptual modeling techniques. Requirements Engineering 9(4), 248–260 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. El Emam, K., El Emam, K., Koru, A.G.: A replicated survey of IT software project failures. IEEE Software 25(5), 84–90 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Hofmann, H.F., Lehner, F.: Requirements engineering as a success factor in software projects. IEEE Software 18(4), 58–66 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. OMG: Business process modeling notation (BPMN) version 2.0. (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  8. OMG: Unified modeling language: Infrastructure. (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  9. OMG: Unified modeling language: Superstructure. (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Genon, N., Heymans, P., Amyot, D.: Analysing the cognitive effectiveness of the BPMN 2.0 Visual Notation. In: Malloy, B., Staab, S., van den Brand, M. (eds.) SLE 2010. LNCS, vol. 6563, pp. 377–396. Springer, Heidelberg (2011)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  11. Moody, D.: The “physics” of notations: Toward a scientific basis for constructing visual notations in software engineering. IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering 35(6), 756–779 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Siau, K., Tian, Y.: A semiotic analysis of unified modeling language graphical notations. Requirements Engineering 14(1), 15–26 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Bunge, M.A.: Ontology I: The furniture of the world. Reidel, Dordrecht (1977)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  14. Bunge, M.A.: Ontology II: A world of systems. Reidel, Dordrecht (1979)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  15. Wand, Y., Weber, R.: An ontological model of an information system. IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering 16(11), 1282–1292 (1990)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Wand, Y., Weber, R.: On the ontological expressiveness of information systems analysis and design grammars. Information Systems Journal 3(4), 217–237 (1993)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Mayer, R.E.: Multimedia learning, 2nd edn. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2009)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  18. Jiang, J.J., Klein, G., Discenza, R.: Perception differences of software success: Provider and user views of system metrics. The Journal of Systems & Software 63(1), 17–27 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Griffith, T.L., Sawyer, J.E., Neale, M.A.: Virtualness and knowledge in teams: Managing the love triangle of organizations, individuals, and information technology. MIS Quarterly 27(2), 265–287 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Mohtashami, M., Marlowe, T., Kirova, V., et al.: Risk management for collaborative software development. Inf. Syst. Manage. 23(4), 20 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Vlaar, P.W.L., van Fenema, P.C., Tiwari, V.: Cocreating understanding and value in distributed work: How members of onsite and offshore vendor teams give, make, demand, and break sense. MIS Quarterly 32(2), 227–255 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Holmström, J., Sawyer, S.: Requirements engineering blinders: Exploring information systems developers’ black-boxing of the emergent character of requirements. European Journal of Information Systems 20(1), 34–47 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Nuseibeh, B., Easterbrook, S.: Requirements engineering: A roadmap. In: Proceedings of the Conference on the Future of Software Engineering, Limerick, Ireland. ACM, New York (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Jarke, M., Loucopoulos, P., Lyytinen, K., et al.: The brave new world of design requirements. Inf. Syst. 36(7), 992–1008 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Chen, Y., Bharadwaj, A.: An empirical analysis of contract structures in IT outsourcing. Information Systems Research 20(4), 484,506,604 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Jiang, J.J., Klein, G., Wu, S.P.J., et al.: The relation of requirements uncertainty and stakeholder perception gaps to project management performance. The Journal of Systems & Software 82(5), 801–808 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Keil, M., Cule, P.E., Lyytinen, K., et al.: A framework for identifying software project risks. Association for Computing Machinery. Communications of the ACM 41(11), 76 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Wallace, L., Keil, M.: Software project risks and their effect on outcomes. Commun. ACM 47(4), 68 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Yang, H., de Roeck, A., Gervasi, V., et al.: Analysing anaphoric ambiguity in natural language requirements. Requirements Engineering 16(3), 163–189 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Paivio, A.: Mental representations: A dual coding approach. Oxford University Press, New York (1986)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Bertin, J.: Semiology of graphics: Diagrams, networks, maps, 1st edn. ESRI Press (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Recker, J., Rosemann, M., Krogstie, J.: Ontology- versus pattern-based evaluation of process modeling languages: A comparison. Communications of AIS 2007(20), 774–799 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  33. Recker, J., Rosemann, M.: The measurement of perceived ontological deficiencies of conceptual modeling grammars. Data Knowl. Eng. 69(5), 516–532 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Weber, R.: Conceptual modelling and ontology: Possibilities and pitfalls. J. Database Manage. 14(3), 1 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Moody, D., van Hillegersberg, J.: Evaluating the visual syntax of UML: An analysis of the cognitive effectiveness of the UML family of diagrams. In: Gašević, D., Lämmel, R., Van Wyk, E. (eds.) SLE 2008. LNCS, vol. 5452, pp. 16–34. Springer, Heidelberg (2009)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  36. Fazio, L.: Stage manager: The professional experience. Focal Press, Boston (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  37. Checkland, P., Scholes, J.: Soft systems methodology in action. Wiley (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  38. ter Hofstede, A.H.M., Kiepuszewski, B., Barros, A., et al.: Workflow patterns. Distributed and Parallel Databases 14(1), 5–51 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Burton-Jones, A., Wand, Y., Weber, R.: Guidelines for empirical evaluations of conceptual modeling grammars*. Journal of the Association for Information Systems 10(6), 495–532 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  40. Moore, G.C., Benbasat, I.: Development of an instrument to measure the perceptions of adopting an information technology innovation. Information Systems Research 2(3), 192–222 (1991)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this paper

Cite this paper

Miske, C., Rothenberger, M.A., Peffers, K. (2014). Towards a More Cognitively Effective Business Process Notation for Requirements Engineering. In: Tremblay, M.C., VanderMeer, D., Rothenberger, M., Gupta, A., Yoon, V. (eds) Advancing the Impact of Design Science: Moving from Theory to Practice. DESRIST 2014. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 8463. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-06701-8_26

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-06701-8_26

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-06700-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-06701-8

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics