Introduction to Computer System Architects (CSA)
CSA
is a specialist consultancy company whose core competence is the minimization
of project risk by means of Requirements
Engineering (RE). This
competence is derived from more than 25 years of cutting-edge experience in the
field, including the development of the world’s first (and still the only) true
RE methodology and supporting software tool set – “G-MARC”.
G-MARC
is capable of being applied to the specification of any kind of system.
What is RE?
Requirements
Engineering is here defined as:
The process of ensuring measurable quality of the information in all
specification related documentation throughout the life of the associated
project with the objective of reducing downstream risk.
RE involves the methodical application of scientific techniques
to improve the quality of a specification[1].
It is based upon the principles of information engineering, which requires
considerable skill and experience to be applied. It is a vitally important, intellectually demanding and
painstaking activity which progressively reveals the real nature of a
specification as it demands the answers to ever more penetrating
questions. The information
engineer is supported by a robust, well-developed methodology which, in turn is
supported by powerful software with appropriate functionality. The information engineer’s ‘toolkit’
includes meaningful metrics to enable the measurement of quality and to monitor
both the direction and size of any improvement.
In the above respects, RE is no different from any other engineering discipline. However its introduction, at the very beginning of any project, enables it to provide the greatest contribution to the success of the project.
[1] MOD “Guide to the Production of User Requirements Documents” Version 2
dated 19/06/2000