Master's thesis in Requirements & Analysis: A comparison of traditional, remote and hybrid requirements elicitation techniques

The process of obtaining requirements for a system from stakeholders, also known as requirements elicitation, used to involve many face-to-face interactions. However, during the last three years, due to Covid-19, this has often been impossible. Nevertheless, requirements elicitation has not stopped; it has adapted and changed by incorporating new (mostly online) techniques.

To achieve the best requirements using the best processes and techniques, it is desirable to evaluate and understand the impact of these new techniques. To do this, we need to gain insight into which online techniques were used, what results they yielded, and how they compare to traditional face-to-face techniques.

Furthermore, working from home has become more common and accepted. This can result in meetings in which requirements are elicited being partly face-to-face and partly online due to people working from home. These hybrid elicitation sessions may require a requirements engineer to incorporate new techniques. What hybrid techniques have already been used, and how do they compare to face-to-face and online techniques?

The assignment

The goal of this thesis will be to make a comprehensive analysis of three categories of elicitation techniques:

• Traditionally / face-to-face
• Online
• Hybrid (partly face-to-face and partly online at the same time)

For each elicitation technique, it is important to consider the technique itself; the goal or aim; the means to achieve that goal; the (type of) interaction with the participants; and the artifacts/documentation used and/or created during the session(s). The techniques will be evaluated and compared for each situation. 

Based on the results, this research can help requirements engineers to improve the elicitation process.

About Info Support Research Center

We anticipate on upcoming and future challenges and ensures our engineers develop cutting-edge solutions based on the latest scientific insights. Our research community proactively tackles emerging technologies. We do this in cooperation with renowned scientists, making sure that research teams are positioned and embedded throughout our organisation and our community, so that their insights are directly applied to our business. We truly believe in sharing knowledge, so we want to do this without any restrictions.

Read more about Info Support Research here.

What does Info Support offer you during your graduation period?

Of course, we offer you an excellent package of graduation conditions with various options. These include:

• Laptop, all necessary tools, and development environments to successfully carry out your assignment
• A graduation allowance, where you have the choice of:
  • € 1000 gross per month
  • € 500 gross per month + lease car with fuel card
  • € 600 gross per month + accommodation in Veenendaal

During your graduation internship, you will be included in one of our business units and in our Research Center. This will give you a good understanding of the developments within our projects and our research projects.

In addition, Info Support offers you:

• A challenging master’s thesis at a solid, growing, and financially healthy company
• Professional and experienced guidance, hybrid working
• A graduation program with, among other things, training sessions, knowledge evenings, project visits, activities, and team, unit, and company outings
• Experimentation with new products and releases that are in the pre-release phase
• Brainstorming with other graduates and IT colleagues who are collegial and passionate
• Potential for a permanent position in our IT Top Traineeship program!

About Info Support

Info Support specializes in custom software, data/AI solutions, management, and training and is active in the Finance, Industry, Agriculture, Food & Retail, Mobility & Public, and Healthcare sectors. We provide solid and innovative solutions for complex and critical software issues. Our headquarters are located in Veenendaal (NL) and Mechelen (BE). At present, approximately 500 employees are employed by Info Support.

Info Support’s working method is characterized by a number of core values: solidity, integrity, craftsmanship, and passion. These core values are intertwined in our work and the way we interact with each other. This year, we were also named a Top Employer in the Netherlands!

To ensure that all employees are always up to date with the latest developments, Info Support has an in-house knowledge center that eagerly satisfies the hunger for more or different knowledge and skills.

B2 language proficiency in Dutch is required.