Requirements change: Understanding the type of changes in the requirements document of novice designers. Issue 4 (October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Joshi, Shraddha; Summers, Joshua D
• Is Part Of: International journal of mechanical engineering education. Volume 43:Issue 4(2015)
• Page Start: 286
• Page End: 304
• Publication Date: 2015-10
• Subjects: Requirements -- requirements change type -- novice designers -- capstone design -- case study -- change management -- design education; Mechanical engineering -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- Periodicals; Mechanical engineering -- Periodicals; 621.0711
• DOI: 10.1177/0306419015612348
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4190

Abstract

This paper presents the findings from a case study conducted to investigate the evolution in the requirements documents of novice engineering designers (students). The case study was conducted with four student teams working in parallel on senior design project. At the beginning of the semester, all four teams were given the design problem and set of initial requirements by the sponsor. For the purpose of this case study, data were collected from all four teams in the form of weekly requirements update. These requirements were then investigated to explore the evolution of requirements and identify the changes in individual requirements from initial weeks to final week. The findings from this case study suggest that the requirements document of novice designers changes in multiple ways. Finally, a set of recommendations and guidelines are developed to help the novice designers to maintain the requirements document and manage the changes in the requirements document.