Exposing the gap between Automotive and Cloud Requirements Engineering Practices

Abstract

Vehicle-to-Cloud based systems require the engineering of both Automotive and Cloud components working in harmony. On a larger scale, these systems require collaboration between Automotive and Cloud domains or industries; however the problem of compatibility of Requirements Engineering practices, use of prioritisation and outlook on new technology arises as a consequence. Using a Mixed Method study, we interviewed nine professionals within either Cloud or Automotive, to get first hand accounts of Requirement Engineering practices, methods of prioritisation, and their impressions of the effect of future Technologies on Requirements Engineering. Through the use of interviews and subsequent surveys, using Thematic Analysis, we drafted themes to help us conclude on interviewee testimonies. The results showed that both Cloud and Automotive used similar RE practices but differed in the way they prioritised requirements due to a misalignment where Cloud focused on Security and Automotive on Safety. Both however, recognised the possible contribution of new technology on Requirements Engineering but cited the strict regulations in their company and well established Requirements Engineering processes as reasons that new technology will only remain a help to existing processes rather than changing or replacing them.