The functional requirements specification of a system should be complete and consistent. Substantiate this statement with suitable examples.


Q.) The functional requirements specification of a system should be complete and consistent. Substantiate this statement with suitable examples.

Subject: Software Engineering

Completeness:

The functional requirements specification (FRS) should capture all the essential functions and features that the system must provide. Completeness ensures that the system can meet all the stakeholders' needs and expectations. It helps to avoid costly rework and delays during implementation and testing.

Examples of completeness in FRS:

  • A banking system FRS should specify all the necessary functions for managing customer accounts, transactions, loans, and investments. It should also include requirements for security, reporting, and compliance with regulations.
  • A manufacturing system FRS should specify all the functions required for production planning, scheduling, inventory management, and quality control. It should also include requirements for integration with other systems, such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM).
  • A healthcare system FRS should specify all the functions required for patient registration, appointment scheduling, medical records management, and billing. It should also include requirements for interoperability with other systems, such as electronic health records (EHR) and laboratory information systems (LIS).

Consistency:

The functional requirements specification (FRS) should be consistent, meaning that there should be no contradictions or conflicts between different requirements. Consistency ensures that the system can be implemented and tested effectively and efficiently. It also helps to avoid misunderstandings and disputes among stakeholders.

Examples of consistency in FRS:

  • The FRS should not specify conflicting requirements for the same function. For example, it should not require the system to generate both a monthly and a quarterly report with the same data.
  • The FRS should not specify requirements that are technically infeasible or contradictory to the system's architecture. For example, it should not require the system to store an unlimited amount of data in a limited memory space.
  • The FRS should not specify requirements that are inconsistent with the organization's policies, standards, or legal obligations. For example, it should not require the system to collect personal data without the user's consent.

Conclusion:

The functional requirements specification (FRS) of a system should be complete and consistent to ensure that the system can meet all the stakeholders' needs and expectations. Completeness helps to avoid costly rework and delays during implementation and testing, while consistency helps to avoid misunderstandings and disputes among stakeholders.