Requirements-Based UML

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to describe the “Requirements-Based UML” (RBU) development technique. RBU is a straightforward, pragmatic methodology for integrating structured requirements analysis into a UML-based analysis and design effort. It involves a very high degree of customer participation and involves the creation of measurable requirement definitions before each stage of modeling and/or coding. RBU includes only the essential tasks and is designed to be highly communicative and easily understood by both customers and professional development staff. Most often developed in direct cooperation with customers via a “Joint Application Design” (JAD) approach, the requirements are used to both design and validate the application functionality.

This paper only includes a brief description of the RBU process. Accordingly, it is not meant as a complete implementation guide for a professional development organization. RBU’s major tasks and techniques are described here, but there has been no attempt to include all of the necessary components of a robust methodology (e.g., standards, procedures, forms, etc.). In addition, the examples contained within are merely illustrative of the overall approach.