Cited by 38Software Engineering Techniques and PracticesAdvanced Software Engineering MethodologiesSystems Engineering Methodologies and Applications

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 45 of the 45 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Impact of requirements volatility on software architecture: How do software teams keep up with ever‐changing requirements?

Open access
Dasanayake, Sandun, Aaramaa, Sanja, Markkula, Jouni, Oivo, Markku·2019·Journal of Software: Evolution and Process

Abstract

Requirements volatility is a major issue in software development, causing problems such as higher defect density, project delays, and cost overruns. Software architecture that guides the overall vision of software product is one of the areas that is greatly affected by requirements volatility. Since critical architecture decisions are made based on the requirements at hand, changes in requirements can result significant changes in architecture. With the wide adoption of agile software development, software architectures are designed to accommodate possible future changes. However, the changes has to be carefully managed as unnecessary and excessive changes can bring negative consequences. An exploratory case study was conducted to study the impact of requirements volatility on software architecture. Fifteen semistructured, thematic interviews were conducted in a European software company. The research revealed poor communication, information distortion, and external dependencies as the main factors that cause requirement volatility and inadequate architecture documentation, inability to trace design rationale, and increased complexity as the main implications of requirements volatility on software architecture. Insights from software teams' awareness of the requirement volatility, factors contribute to it, and possible ways to mitigate its implications will be utilized to improve the management of requirement volatility during software architecting process.

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Metadata

Authors
Dasanayake, S., Aaramaa, S., Markkula, J., & Oivo, M.
Affiliations
University of Oulu (FI)
Corresponding author
Dasanayake, Sandun
Venue
Journal of Software: Evolution and Process
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2019-03-25
Volume
31
Issue
6
ISSN
  • 2047-7473 (ISSN-L)
  • 2047-7481
OpenAlex
W2936336847
Cited by
32
References
45
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 3
FWCI
3.42
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Software Evolution and Process (publishedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University) (submittedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Software Engineering Techniques and Practices
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Software › Advanced Software Engineering Methodologies
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Control and Systems Engineering › Systems Engineering Methodologies and Applications
Keywords
requirements change, software architecture, architecture decisions, agile software development, software development teams, architectural documentation, information distortion, external dependence, software complexity, requirements change management

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CoChat. (2026). Citation check: Impact of requirements volatility on software architecture: How do software teams keep up with ever‐changing requirements? https://app.cochat.ai/papers/10.1002/smr.2160
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Dasanayake, S., Aaramaa, S., Markkula, J., & Oivo, M. (2019). Impact of requirements volatility on software architecture: How do software teams keep up with ever‐changing requirements? Journal of Software: Evolution and Process. https://doi.org/10.1002/smr.2160