Domain Knowledge in Requirements Engineering: A Systematic Mapping Study

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Araújo, Marina, Araújo, Júlia, Oliveira, Romeu, Romao, Lucas, Kalinowski, Marcos
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Araújo, Marina
Araújo, Júlia
Oliveira, Romeu
Romao, Lucas
Kalinowski, Marcos
author_facet Araújo, Marina
Araújo, Júlia
Oliveira, Romeu
Romao, Lucas
Kalinowski, Marcos
contents [Context] Domain knowledge is recognized as a key component for the success of Requirements Engineering (RE), as it provides the conceptual support needed to understand the system context, ensure alignment with stakeholder needs, and reduce ambiguity in requirements specification. Despite its relevance, the scientific literature still lacks a systematic consolidation of how domain knowledge can be effectively used and operationalized in RE. [Goal] This paper addresses this gap by offering a comprehensive overview of existing contributions, including methods, techniques, and tools to incorporate domain knowledge into RE practices. [Method] We conducted a systematic mapping study using a hybrid search strategy that combines database searches with iterative backward and forward snowballing. [Results] In total, we found 75 papers that met our inclusion criteria. The analysis highlights the main types of requirements addressed, the most frequently considered quality attributes, and recurring challenges in the formalization, acquisition, and long-term maintenance of domain knowledge. The results provide support for researchers and practitioners in identifying established approaches and unresolved issues. The study also outlines promising directions for future research, emphasizing the development of scalable, automated, and sustainable solutions to integrate domain knowledge into RE processes. [Conclusion] The study contributes by providing a comprehensive overview that helps to build a conceptual and methodological foundation for knowledge-driven requirements engineering.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2506_20754
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Domain Knowledge in Requirements Engineering: A Systematic Mapping Study
Araújo, Marina
Araújo, Júlia
Oliveira, Romeu
Romao, Lucas
Kalinowski, Marcos
Software Engineering
[Context] Domain knowledge is recognized as a key component for the success of Requirements Engineering (RE), as it provides the conceptual support needed to understand the system context, ensure alignment with stakeholder needs, and reduce ambiguity in requirements specification. Despite its relevance, the scientific literature still lacks a systematic consolidation of how domain knowledge can be effectively used and operationalized in RE. [Goal] This paper addresses this gap by offering a comprehensive overview of existing contributions, including methods, techniques, and tools to incorporate domain knowledge into RE practices. [Method] We conducted a systematic mapping study using a hybrid search strategy that combines database searches with iterative backward and forward snowballing. [Results] In total, we found 75 papers that met our inclusion criteria. The analysis highlights the main types of requirements addressed, the most frequently considered quality attributes, and recurring challenges in the formalization, acquisition, and long-term maintenance of domain knowledge. The results provide support for researchers and practitioners in identifying established approaches and unresolved issues. The study also outlines promising directions for future research, emphasizing the development of scalable, automated, and sustainable solutions to integrate domain knowledge into RE processes. [Conclusion] The study contributes by providing a comprehensive overview that helps to build a conceptual and methodological foundation for knowledge-driven requirements engineering.
title Domain Knowledge in Requirements Engineering: A Systematic Mapping Study
topic Software Engineering
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.20754