To Require or not to Require: A Case Study on the Benefits and Drawbacks of Requirements Engineering Practices in Startups

Abstract: Software startups operate in conditions of uncertainty to develop software intensive products/ services. While few startups succeed, the majority fail and poor requirements engineering practices play a significant role in 5 the failure of startups. [Research and contribution]: Through an exploratory multi-case study on software startups, we investigate the requirements engineering practices that the they use and their benefits and drawbacks through interviews and surveys. In conducting this study, practitioners can benefit from a list of 10 recommendations on how to make better decisions regarding the practices they adopt and, consequentially, avoid supplying products that fail to meet customer demands. Moreover, academia can benefit from the empirical insight into how startups manage their requirements and the value that they receive from practices.