Cited by 912Software Engineering Techniques and PracticesAdvanced Software Engineering MethodologiesSoftware Engineering Research

Toward reference models for requirements traceability

Ramesh, B., Jarke, M.·2001·IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering

Abstract

Requirements traceability is intended to ensure continued alignment between stakeholder requirements and various outputs of the system development process. To be useful, traces must be organized according to some modeling framework. Indeed, several such frameworks have been proposed, mostly based on theoretical considerations or analysis of other literature. This paper, in contrast, follows an empirical approach. Focus groups and interviews conducted in 26 major software development organizations demonstrate a wide range of traceability practices with distinct low-end and high-end users of traceability. From these observations, reference models comprising the most important kinds of traceability links for various development tasks have been synthesized. The resulting models have been validated in case studies and are incorporated in a number of traceability tools. A detailed case study on the use of the models is presented. Four kinds of traceability link types are identified and critical issues that must be resolved for implementing each type and potential solutions are discussed. Implications for the design of next-generation traceability methods and tools are discussed and illustrated.

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Crossref · 10.1109/32.895989

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Authors
Ramesh, B., & Jarke, M.
Affiliations
  • Georgia State University (US)
  • Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology (DE)
Venue
IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering
Published
2001
Volume
27
Issue
1
Pages
58-93
ISSN
0098-5589 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2045895677
Cited by
912
References
63
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 30 · 2016: 35 · 2015: 38 · 2014: 35 · 2013: 47 · 2012: 69
FWCI
92.83
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering (publishedVersion)
  • Publikationsdatenbank der Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft (Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft) (submittedVersion)
  • Fraunhofer-Publica (Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft) (submittedVersion)
  • RWTH Publications (RWTH Aachen) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Software Engineering Techniques and Practices
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Advanced Software Engineering Methodologies
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Software Engineering Research
Keywords
requirements traceability, reference model, traceability links, software development process, stakeholder needs, traceability tools, requirements engineering

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