REfine: A Tool for Crowd-Centered Requirements Engineering
REfine is a research project of Utrecht University and KPMG. We are exploring the future of Requirements Engineering, in the context of our vision of crowd-centric requirements engineering [1][3]. Our core research questions is: How can we apply crowdsourcing and gamification to improve the process of developing new software functionalities?
REfine is an online software tool that allows any stakeholder share needs (market requirements) regarding a software product: end users, managers, developers, prospective adopters, etc.
There are several ways in which stakeholders can provide their inputs:
A screenshot of REfine, instantiated on its real-world application to the development of the Qubus 7 product by KPMG, is shown below.
Further details on REfine can be found in our CrowdRE'15 paper [2] and in our technical report [3]. A live demonstration will be provided soon.
To make these actions not only useful, but also fun, game elements have been included in REfine. For each of the actions, the stakeholder obtains points. Different stakeholders may have their self-defined objectives, and aim to become the best ideator, the best commenter, the best assessor, or the best overall contributor.
Every game has some rules and so does this gamified experience. A stakeholder does not get to the top by just posting a lot of needs and comments. We value constructiveness, and therefore give the most points when others recognize the value of a need or comment. Additionally, stakeholders need coins to post needs and comments. These coins are earned when others vote for one's needs and comments.
| Action | You pay | You earn |
|---|---|---|
| Sharing a need | 3 coins | 5 ideator points |
| Commenting | 1 coin | 1 commenter point |
| Voting | - | 1 assessor point |
| Branching | 3 coins | 5 ideator points + 1 commenter point |
Points and coins are gathered also when others vote for one's needs and when they branch one's needs. These rules are discovered by the stakeholders while playing the game.
People behind the REfine project