Common terminology, as well as established techniques and methods key success factors of Requirements Engineering The contribution of certification Stefan Sturm IREB GmbH 1
About me Who am I? Stefan Sturm, Managing Director of IREB GmbH What is the IREB GmbH? Operating company of the IREB e.v. What is the IREB e.v.? International Requirements Engineering Board (IREB) e.v. 2 2
The importance of RE Publications reveal that software projects still fail or have cost and/or time overruns. Numerous studies show that about 60% of the errors of system development projects originate in the RE stage. Effort to fix a requirement defect: up to 100 times higher x up to 20 times higher RE stage programing stage testing stage 3 3
Requirements Engineering A subject area with a long tradition 21 st IEEE Requirements Engineering Conference Rio 2013 19 th REFSQ conference 2013 12 th ReConf 2013 in Munich with over 400 participants But. 4 4
Requirements Engineering Is it really well established? Chasm You are the Protagonists! Yes, but But If No, because Because Because I ll run amok if Protagonists OpenMinds CloseMinds Antagonists Source: Prof. Dr. Gunter Dueck, ReConf 2013 dueck@omnisophie.com www.omnisophie.com 5 5
Requirements Engineering And there is a second chasm! Chasm It would be better if everybody would do it I m still not convinced but I ll do it if the pressure is high enough. I ll fight it even harder Protagonists OpenMinds CloseMinds Antagonists Source: Prof. Dr. Gunter Dueck, ReConf 2013 dueck@omnisophie.com www.omnisophie.com 6 6
Time to overcome the chasm! Requirements Engineering Requirements Engineering is getting started! Number of attendees in conferences increase Number of certified professionals is growing fast The profession Requirements Engineer has been officially acknowledged in the first country (Switzerland) Increase efforts by setting quality standards improving the application of RE demonstrating the value of RE 7 7
Requirements Engineering Common terminology, techniques and methods Why do we need it? Different implementation of Requirements Engineering At customers, suppliers, partners In distributed teams at different locations, offshore, near shore In different industrial sectors Problems in communication due to different languages different cultures (ethnological and company specific) Misunderstanding of agile Elicitation of requirements is underestimated Documentation and traceability of requirements is neglected 8 8
The problem Requirements Engineering Customers, suppliers and development partners talk past each other when defining requirements Consequences (incomplete) Incomplete Requirements Ambiguous Requirements Missing common understanding of Requirements Different prioritization of Requirements Conflicts between project partners Time and cost overruns Missing, wrong or gold plated functionality 9 9
Challenges Requirements Engineering Common understanding of terms Within distributed teams Between customers, suppliers and development teams Over language and cultural boundaries Elicitation, documentation and administration of Requirements Over release cycles In the context of agile development Within distributed teams 10 10
Challenges - continued Requirements Engineering Know-How Transfer To new employees / with staff fluctuation Within distributed teams (see first point) Different skill levels Many practitioners do not have an education in systems/software engineering 11 11
Requirements Engineering Certification How does it help? Why not just Training? Training Provides the fundament for Know-How acquisition Is a recognized form of qualification Is part of employee motivation Certification Common definition of terminology to improve communication and Know-How transfer Provides an international recognized fundament for training Training Providers align their trainings to a standard the syllabus of the certificate Motivates professionals to improve their skills Motivates companies to invest in training Offers a possibility to companies to demonstrate their expertise 12 12
The IREB The IREB history International experts from business, research and education gathered in Nuremberg to form IREB Development of the CPRE certification scheme syllabi examination regulations glossary exam questionnaires Release of the CPRE Advanced Level (AL) modules Requirements Elicitation & Consolidation Requirements Modeling Release of first CPRE Advanced Level (AL) in English 2006 2007 2011 2012 2013 Foundation of the IREB e.v. as a nonprofit organization Release of the CPRE Foundation Level (FL) Foundation Foundation of of the the IREB IREB GmbH GmbH as as operating operating company company of of IREB IREB e.v. e.v. + 13,000 CPRE FL ~ 500 CPRE AL certified practitioners worldwide 13 13
Members of the board Personal board members: Renown experts from industry, research, consulting and education Supporting Members: Committed persons in the field of RE The IREB The board International Requirements Engineering Board (IREB) Activities of the board Elaboration of the curriculum, glossary and exams for the Certified Professional for Requirements Engineering Translations of the artifacts: English, French, German, Polish, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), Chinese in preparation Publishing of articles, textbooks and references 14 14
Facts Since April 1st, 2011 100% owned by the IREB e.v. The IREB The IREB GmbH - Operating Company of the IREB e.v. Stefan Sturm Managing Director IREB GmbH Activities Organizational support for the board, workgroups and supporting members Coordination of IREB tasks such as Elaboration of the curriculum and the exam questions for the CPRE Coordination and organization of training providers and certification bodies Marketing of the CPRE certificates Press and media releases Publishing of articles 15 15
The CPRE The principles of the certification IREB GmbH Training Providers International Requirements Engineering Board (IREB) IREB GmbH Trainees / Exam candidates IREB GmbH Certification Bodies Allocation of tasks to clearly separated and independent organizations ensures fairness and neutrality. 16 16
Personal certificate for requirements engineering not time limited Three step certification program Foundation Level Advanced Level Expert Level The CPRE Certified Professional for Requirements Engineering FL AL EL CPRE Foundation Level accessible to everyone, as there are no prerequisites 17 17
The CPRE Three level certification program CPRE Expert Level EL AL CPRE Advanced Level Mastering and using methods and techniques Specialization in one or more modules: Requirements Elicitation and Consolidation released in 2011 Requirements Modeling released in 2011 Requirements Management in progress FL CPRE Foundation Level Fundamental understanding of domain, methodology and available techniques Most important education in RE worldwide - besides the university education! 18 18
Foundation Level Fundamental understanding of RE Languages Syllabi and exams currently in English, French, German, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish - Chinese in preparation Companion Book available in English, German and Portuguese (Brazil) No prerequisites FL The CPRE 19 19
Advanced Level AL The CPRE Released Modules Requirements Elicitation & Consolidation, March 2011 Requirements Modeling, March 2011 Module in work Requirements Management, planned for 2014 Languages Syllabi and exams currently in German and English (the latter for Elicitation & Consolidation only) Prerequisite CPRE Foundation Level certificate 20 20
Other Certifications BCS Diploma in Business Analysis BCS is well established in the UK BCS, offers a comprehensive range of business analysis certifications IREB and BCS have signed a MOU: Candidates that have completed the IREB s CPRE Foundation level will be exempt from taking the BCS Certificate in Requirements Engineering to achieve their Diploma. Candidates that have completed the BCS Certificate in Requirements Engineering will be exempt from taking the IREB CPRE Foundation level to progress to the Advanced level. 21
IIBA CBAP /CCBA IIBA is well known worldwide Other Certifications Both CBAP and CCBA have high entry criteria By September 5 th there were 411 CCBA worldwide, 3 in the Netherlands 3049 CBAP worldwide, 7 in the Netherlands +13.000 CPRE Foundation Level worldwide, 479 in the Netherlands More on the strategic level whereas the CPRE is more practical oriented 22
Other Certifications When we were introducing structured business analysis at Sunrise, we used the BABOK Guide from the IIBA. This served as the basis for the definition of our processes, which are described there in some detail. When we then wanted to implement a training curriculum and certification program, we moved fully in the direction of the IREB/CPRE. The CPRE syllabi offer in our opinion a more practice-oriented approach. The focus there is on concrete methods and techniques for requirements elicitation, documentation, management and conflict resolution, which are not treated in the same depth by the IIBA. In my opinion the use of the BABOK Guide for process definition and the CPRE for requirements engineering training and certification complement each other ideally. Christoph Wolf, Manager Business Analysis, Sunrise Communications AG 23
What makes the CPRE unique? No prerequisites for the CPRE Foundation Level - everyone can strive for it! No recertification The CPRE International acceptance more than 13000 certified in 46 countries Based on the knowledge of real RE experts Check publications on RE of the board members! Reinvestment of the revenues of IREB in the development and the spread of the CPRE Support of our partners to foster excellence in RE 24 24
The goals The goals of the CPRE are The CPRE to establish a common terminology in RE to provide international accepted techniques and methods for RE to provide an international accepted base for training in RE to improve the current practice of RE to add value to the skills of the professionals to cross the chasm!!! 25 25
Discussion Any questions? Stefan.Sturm@certified-re.de 26 26