Complete thesis - Murdoch University

opportunistic behaviour (Guindon, 1990; Visser, 1992).Figure 2.3: Opportunism in requirements discovery (Guindon, 1990)As we see in Figure 2.3, the Requirements Engineer builds fragments of understanding ofthe problem (chunks) validated and consolidated through the traversal of layers, collectingmore areas and information at each, adding detail and richness to the mental model of theproblem situation (Batra and Davis, 1992).The creativity of this process (Lubars et al, 1993; Maiden and Sutcliffe, 1992; Maiden andGizikis, 2001; Thomas et al, 2002) is hampered by strict adherence to engineering and sciencemethodologies. These:• restrict the essential characteristics of the process (such as opportunism)• assist in adding accidental complexity through their attempts to control the RE’s professionalpractice. Sutcliffe and Maiden (1992) suggest strict adherence to methodprocedures may restrict natural problem-solving• impose a plan at odds to the RE’s cognitive planning mechanisms and hence interferingwith the management of knowledge. Visser (1990) suggests in practice, a plan is followedonly as it is cognitively cost-effective, and• inhibits the necessary creative thinking required by superimposing a goal too early inthe process. Boden (1997) makes a case for the claim that changing the goals andadding constraints during the design process might be at the core of creative thinking.As an extension to this non-scientific perspective, work initially from Deakin University (for51