User:Shawndouglas/sandbox/sublevel8
Merriam-Webster defines a "specification" as "a detailed precise presentation of something or of a plan or proposal for something."[1] In other words, an existing or theoretical product, concept, or idea is presented in detail for a particular audience. In a broad sense, detailing the specifics about a project, concept, or idea to others is just common sense. This applies just as well to the world of software development, where a software requirements specification is essential for preventing the second most commonly cited reason for project failure: poor requirements management.[2]
In fact, the ISO/IEC/IEEE 29148:2018 standard (a conglomeration of what was formerly IEEE 830 and other standards) is in place to help specify "the required processes implemented in the engineering activities that result in requirements for systems and software products" and provides guidelines for how to apply those requirements.[3] The standard describes the characteristics that make up quality software requirement development, including aspects such as[4]:
- correctly describing system behavior;
- effectively removing ambiguity from the language used;
- completely covering the system behavior and features;
- accurately prioritizing and ranking the requirements; and
- unequivocally ensuring the requirements are testable, modifiable, and traceable.
A requirement typically comes in the form of a statement that begins with "the system/user/vendor shall/should ..." and focuses on a provided service, reaction to input, or expected behavior in a given situation. The statement may be abstract (high-level) or specific and detailed to a precise function. The statement may also be of a functional nature, describing functionality or services in detail, or of a non-functional nature, describing the constraints of a given functionality or service and how it's rendered. An example of a functional software requirement could be "the user shall be able to query either all of the initial set of databases or select a subset from it." This statement describes specific functionality the system should have. On the other hand, a non-functional requirement, for example, may state "the system's query tool shall conform to the ABC 123-2014 standard." The statement describes a constraint placed upon the system's query functionality. Once compiled, a set of requirements can serve not only to strengthen the software requirements specification, but the requirements set can also be used for bidding on a contract or serve as the basis for a specific contract that is being finalized.[5]
Over the years, a wide variety of companies, consultants, and researchers have compiled public and private software requirements specifications for laboratory informatics systems. These compiled lists of requirements for how a given laboratory informatics solution should be developed, delivered, and maintained have changed as technology and user demand have evolved. Often times, these requirements documents turn into a mix of "wishlist" requirements from potential and active clients, as well as regulation-mandated requirements. The wishlist items aren't necessarily ignored by developers, but they do in fact have to be prioritized as "nice to have" or "essential to system operation," or something in between.[6][7][8] While this reasonable mix of requirements has served informatics software developers well[9], sometimes a fresh approach is required.
What follows is an attempt to look less at the wishlists of laboratories and more directly at what requirements current regulatory schemes, industry standards, and organizational guidelines place on the ever-evolving array of laboratory informatics systems being developed today. What does the United States' 21 CFR Part 11 have to say about how your laboratory information management system (LIMS), laboratory information system (LIS), electronic laboratory notebook (ELN), and other systems operate? What does the European Union's Annex 11 dictate in those same regards? The following five chapters list those requirements, supported by one or more regulations, standards, and guidelines. The final chapter discusses how to best put this requirements specification to use.
References
- ↑ "specification". Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, Inc. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/specification. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
- ↑ Bieg, D.P. (August 2014). "Introduction" (PDF). Requirements Management: A Core Competency for Project and Program Success. Project Management Institute. p. 3. https://www.pmi.org/-/media/pmi/documents/public/pdf/learning/thought-leadership/pulse/requirements-management.pdf. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
- ↑ "ISO/IEC/IEEE 29148:2018". International Organization for Standardization. November 2018. https://www.iso.org/standard/72089.html. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
- ↑ Seibert, P. (28 July 2011). "How do you write software requirements? What are software requirements? What is a software requirement?". HubTechInsider. https://hubtechinsider.wordpress.com/2011/07/28/how-do-you-write-software-requirements-what-are-software-requirements-what-is-a-software-requirement/. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
- ↑ Memon, A. (Spring 2010). "Software Requirements: Descriptions and specifications of a system" (PDF). University of Maryland. https://www.cs.umd.edu/~atif/Teaching/Spring2010/Slides/3.pdf. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
- ↑ Aasem, M.; Ramzan, M.; Jaffar, A. (2010). "Analysis and optimization of software requirements prioritization techniques". Proceedings from the 2010 International Conference on Information and Emerging Technologies: 1–6. doi:10.1109/ICIET.2010.5625687.
- ↑ Hirsch, J. (22 November 2013). "10 Steps To Successful Requirements Gathering". Phase2 Technology, LLC. https://www.phase2technology.com/blog/successful-requirements-gathering. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
- ↑ Burris, E. (2007). "Requirements Specification". CS451R, University of Missouri–Kansas City. University of Missouri–Kansas City. Archived from the original on 24 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190724173601/http://sce2.umkc.edu/BIT/burrise/pl/requirements/. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
- ↑ Hofmann, H.F.; Lehner, F. (2001). "Requirements engineering as a success factor in software projects". IEEE Software 18 (4): 58–66. doi:10.1109/MS.2001.936219.
