Browse Books

Reviewer: Michael G. Murphy

This massive tome by Pohl succeeds in providing "a comprehensive, well-structured, and easy-to-read ... compendium" on the field of requirements engineering where such did not exist previously. It serves as an excellent reference volume for students and practitioners of software and systems engineering as opposed to a practical textbook, given its size. The author's aim is to provide "the fundamentals, principles, and techniques of requirements engineering based on knowledge and experience gained in research and on industrial projects"; he does so successfully. The layout, visuals, and organization of the book are exceptional. The contents are presented in eight parts: "Fundamentals and Framework," "System Context," "Requirements Artefacts," "Core Activities," "Validation," "Management," "COSMOD-RE: the Goal- and Scenario-Based RE Methodology," and "Software Product Lines and Requirements-Based Testing." The requirements artifacts part has subparts on goals, scenarios, and solution-oriented requirements, while the core activities part has subparts on documentation, elicitation, and negotiation. Most parts and subparts have recommended literature lists with annotations. Also included is an appendix with a glossary, an extensive literature list, and an index. Real-world examples are used to illustrate concepts, methods, and issues. Standards are referenced when appropriate. Pohl's book is effectively a significantly enhanced third edition of his two previous German editions. As such, the book is much more polished and effective than most first editions. It also has a reader-friendly feel that makes the material readily accessible and digestible for both students and practitioners. Although I would find it daunting to use the book as a primary text, the author does provide a Web site with assistance based on his experiences in doing just that. Domain-specific requirements engineering is not emphasized, but it is mentioned where appropriate. The agile development community may feel somewhat left out, but the elements of requirements engineering to support virtually any methodology can be extracted easily from this comprehensive treatise. Students, practitioners, and researchers with an interest in requirements engineering for software and systems engineering should consider adding this unique book to their libraries. Online Computing Reviews Service