How do you manage changing requirements in object-oriented analysis?

1 Use agile methods

Agile methods are a set of software development approaches that emphasize iterative and incremental delivery, customer collaboration, and responsiveness to change. These methods can help you manage changing requirements in object-oriented analysis by delivering working software in short cycles, which reduces the risk of building the wrong solution and increases the feedback from stakeholders. Additionally, involving customers and users in the analysis process ensures their needs and expectations are understood and prioritized. Refining and revising the analysis models based on the feedback and changes in the requirements further improves the quality and accuracy of the models.

2 Apply the principle of abstraction

Abstraction is a principle of object-oriented analysis that involves concentrating on the essential features and behaviors of a problem domain and disregarding the irrelevant or unneeded details. Abstraction can assist in managing changing requirements in object-oriented analysis by allowing you to simplify the complexity of the problem domain, recognize commonalities and variations among classes and objects, and define the interfaces and contracts of the classes and objects while concealing their implementation details. This makes them simpler to modify and reuse.

3 Use flexible and modular models

Flexible and modular models can help you manage changing requirements in object-oriented analysis by employing low coupling and high cohesion principles, design patterns, and refactoring techniques. These principles, patterns, and techniques allow classes and objects to be loosely connected and highly focused on their responsibilities, while also enhancing the reusability, extensibility, and maintainability of the models. Refactoring techniques also eliminate redundancies, inconsistencies, and errors in the models without changing their behavior.

4 Document and communicate the changes

Documenting and communicating the changes in the requirements and the analysis models are essential for ensuring alignment and understanding among stakeholders, developers, and testers. Doing so can help manage changing requirements in object-oriented analysis by using standard notation and tools, such as Unified Modeling Language (UML) and CASE tools. Traceability techniques, including matrices, diagrams, or tools, can link the requirements to the analysis models and the code. Furthermore, collaboration techniques like reviews, walkthroughs, or workshops can involve stakeholders, developers, and testers in discussing and validating the changes, which can increase transparency and trust.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?