Engineering transparency requirements: A modelling and analysis framework. (May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hosseini, Mahmood; Shahri, Alimohammad; Phalp, Keith; Ali, Raian
• Is Part Of: Information systems. Volume 74:Part 1(2018)
• Page Start: 3
• Page End: 22
• Publication Date: 2018-05
• Subjects: Transparency requirements -- Transparency management -- Requirements engineering; Database management -- Periodicals; Electronic data processing -- Periodicals; Bases de données -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Informatique -- Périodiques; Database management; Electronic data processing; Periodicals; 005.7
• DOI: 10.1016/j.is.2017.12.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4379

Abstract

Highlights: We have tried to address all the comments of the reviewers and editors. We improved the format of the paper based on the reviewers comments. We have rewritten and modified the claims to language quality to the quality of models created by the language, as was suggested by the reviewers. Abstract: Transparency is a requirement that denotes the communication of information that should help audience to take informed decisions. The existing research on transparency in information systems usually focuses on the party who provides transparency and its inter-relation with other requirements such as privacy, security and regulatory requirements. Engineering transparency, however, also requires the analysis of the information receivers' situation and their transparency requirements and the medium used to communicate and present the information. A holistic consideration of transparency will enhance its management and increase its usefulness. In this paper, we provide a novel engineering framework, consisting of a modelling language and nine analytical reasonings, which is meant to represent transparency requirements and detect a set of possible side-effects. Examples of such detections include detecting information overload, information starvation, and transparency leading to biased decisions. We then evaluate the modelling language through a case study and report the results.