requirementsshape

Requirementshape is a modeling concept used in requirements engineering to represent and manage the evolution of software requirements as geometric shapes. In this approach each requirement is encoded as a shape whose visual properties convey attributes such as priority, risk, and traceability. The metaphor aims to improve communication among stakeholders by translating abstract needs into tangible visuals that can be discussed and revised during iterative development.

Origin and scope: Requirementshape has emerged in practitioner literature and workshops as a lightweight technique for agile and mixed-method environments. It is not a universally standardized notation but a flexible framework that can be adapted to organizational conventions.

Core concepts: A shape represents a requirement; size or area may indicate scope; color or fill conveys priority or risk; edges or corners can signal stability or volatility; connectors and nesting capture dependencies and refinements. Shapes can be linked to tests, user stories, or acceptance criteria to support traceability. The shaping process is iterative, with shapes resized or remapped as stakeholder feedback evolves.

Process and tools: Elicitation sessions produce an initial shape map; refinement cycles adjust shapes; change management tracks transformations; integration with existing requirements repositories ensures traceability.

Benefits and limitations: Benefits include improved visual communication, early conflict detection, and traceability. Limitations include potential ambiguity if conventions are not standardized, possible oversimplification, and the need for dedicated tooling and training.

Example: In a new search feature, a large circle represents the requirement, with yellow inner slices for filters, results, and performance constraints; connections to a separate shape representing accessibility show interdependence.

See also: Requirements engineering, visual modeling, feature modeling, traceability.