THE ROLE OF GSS IN REQUIREMENTS SPECIFICATION : A CASE STUDY

The aim of this paper is to describe the results of an experiment into the use of GSS during the requirements definition stage of an information systems development project. The experiment focuses on providing support for the process of consensus formation among potential system users, prior to the construction of a formal requirements specification. The experiment was based around the determination of user requirements for a bibliographic information system, to be used within a university department. The participants were academic staff of the department with a variety of expectations for the system. Techniques associated with GSS were used to support the group interaction and consensus formation. The paper discusses the key stages in this process and describes the appropriateness of the techniques used. The results are significant in that they identify techniques appropriate to supporting user groups in the clarification of system requirements before the involvement of development personnel.