Module Specification

Modern Requirements Engineering

London school of INNOVATION

Module Specification

Modern Requirements Engineering: Crafting Solutions with Precision and Purpose


Effective requirements engineering is the backbone of successful software development, yet many projects falter due to poorly defined requirements. This module explores the dynamic world of requirements, where clarity, precision, and adaptability are essential. You'll examine how emerging methodologies and tools reshape the discipline, with a focus on real-world applications.

In this module, you'll master techniques for gathering, analysing, and validating requirements, ensuring they are clear and aligned with project goals. You'll learn to use industry-standard tools such as JIRA and Trello, and explore formats like user stories, wireframes, and formal documentation. Legal, ethical, and security aspects will also be covered to give you a holistic understanding.

The practical skills and insights gained will empower you to address challenges such as scope creep and requirement prioritisation, ensuring alignment with business objectives. By the end of this module, you’ll be able to define digital projects with confidence and become an invaluable asset in any development team.


Code Number of Credits ECTS Credits Framework HECoS code
RE71 15 7 FHEQ - L7

Learning outcomes

Code Attributes developed Outcomes
LO1 Knowledge and Understanding Critically evaluate methodologies for eliciting and analysing requirements across various software project frameworks.
LO2 Intellectual Skills Apply advanced prioritisation techniques such as MoSCoW and WSJF to manage requirement backlogs in complex projects.
LO3 Intellectual Skills Synthesize requirements using structured methods like use-cases, story mapping, and state machine modelling.
LO4 Technical/Practical Skills Translate requirements into test scripts and validation processes ensuring alignment with functional and non-functional specifications.
LO5 Technical/Practical Skills Utilise industry-standard tools like JIRA, Trello, and Asana for the traceability and management of requirements.
LO6 Professional/Transferable Skills Demonstrate advanced interpersonal and networking skills to enhance team performance in requirements engineering contexts.

Assessment Patterns

Weighting Format Outcomes assessed
50% Simulation and Role Playing Assessment
This assessment requires students to engage in AI-assisted simulations or role-playing scenarios that mirror real-world professional situations. It evaluates their practical knowledge, decision-making, and adaptability.

Students are given a detailed brief outlining a dynamic, evolving problem involving various issues like business, legal, professional, and ethical considerations. They must interpret the situation, consult relevant sources, and present a solution based on their knowledge from the module.

At the start of the module, students attend a workshop on effective participation in simulations aligned with the learning outcomes. Throughout the term, they practice through formative simulations, receiving feedback from AI, peers, staff, and their module leader.		 K LO1
I LO2
I LO3
T LO4
T LO5
P LO6
50% Invigilated Exam
This is a time-limited and closed-book exam with a mix of multiple-choice and analytical written questions that students undertake during the summative assessment period as scheduled under the School’s remote invigilation conditions to ensure quality and academic integrity.

The exam enables the students to demonstrate their successful attainment of the module learning outcomes, primarily related to knowledge and understanding, and secondarily related to Professional/Transferable Skills.

The analytical written questions will consist of problem questions representing issues and dilemmas students are likely to encounter in professional life and students have to synthesise and apply what they have learnt on the module in order to produce sound and reasoned judgements with respect to the problem.

To enable the students to practice and prepare, various formative assessment activies, including quizzes and a AI-augmented assignments and mock exams are built into the module. Additionally, throughout the course, students will regularly receive feedback on their knowledge and assignments from AI as well as peers and staff to indicate how to improve future work and how to give constructive feedback to others.		 K LO1
I LO2
I LO3
P LO6

Student workload

Activity Total hours
Introductory lecture 1.50
Concept learning (knowledge graph) 18.00
AI formative assessment 9.00
Case Study Review 9.00
AI Roleplay 13.50
Workshop/Lab Sessions 13.50
Independent reading, exploration and practice 61.50
Summative assessment 24.00
150.00

Content Structure

Week Chapter Name Chapter Description
Week 1 Eliciting Requirements Explore how to effectively gather requirements from diverse stakeholders, ensuring clear communication and alignment with business goals. Focus on building trust and understanding the underlying needs, motivations, and expectations. Learn why stakeholder collaboration is key in avoiding misunderstandings that lead to project failure. Understand the importance of asking the right questions and using methods like interviews, workshops, and surveys to gain actionable insights.
Week 2 Analysing Requirements Learn to systematically break down gathered requirements to ensure they are complete, consistent, and aligned with project objectives. Understand the importance of managing conflicting requirements and negotiating priorities. Explore techniques for clarifying vague or ambiguous requirements and ensure they are feasible within the constraints of time, budget, and technology. Understand why requirement analysis is crucial for preventing scope creep and ensuring project success.
Week 3 Modelling System Behaviours Delve into state machine modelling and other techniques to map system behaviours. Understand why it's important to visually represent system responses to various inputs and states. Learn how models help clarify complex interactions and ensure all edge cases are accounted for, reducing the risk of design flaws. Grasp the significance of behaviour modelling in anticipating how a system will function under real-world conditions.
Week 4 Specifying Requirements Understand different formats for requirement specifications, including user stories, use cases, wireframes, and formal documents like SRS and FSD. Learn why well-written specifications are crucial for ensuring all stakeholders have a common understanding of the project’s scope. Explore how these documents serve as a foundation for both design and development, ensuring traceability and helping to avoid costly misunderstandings.
Week 5 Prioritising Requirements Explore the reasons why not all requirements are created equal. Learn techniques for prioritising requirements based on business value, technical feasibility, and stakeholder needs. Understand the importance of balancing short-term and long-term goals, and using methods like MoSCoW, Kano, and WSJF to make informed decisions. Grasp why poor prioritisation leads to wasted resources and misaligned project outcomes.
Week 6 Maintaining Traceability Learn how to track requirements through the entire project lifecycle, ensuring changes are managed efficiently and nothing is lost in translation. Understand why traceability is essential for maintaining control over evolving projects, particularly in agile or iterative environments. Explore tools and techniques that make it easy to see the impact of changes on design, development, and testing, reducing the risk of costly rework.
Week 7 Managing Scope Creep Understand why scope creep is one of the biggest threats to project success and how to prevent it. Learn techniques for managing stakeholder expectations and balancing flexibility with control. Explore how agile methodologies allow for iterative adjustments while maintaining a firm handle on the overall project direction. Grasp the importance of transparent communication and robust change management in avoiding runaway projects.
Week 8 Validating and Testing Translate requirements into testable scripts and learn why validation is critical to ensuring the final product meets its intended purpose. Explore how early and continuous testing reduces defects, saving time and money in the long run. Learn approaches for validating both functional and non-functional requirements, such as performance and security, ensuring they align with stakeholder expectations and the product is fit for deployment.
Week 9 Agile Framework Integration Learn how to integrate requirements engineering into agile, iterative, and traditional project frameworks. Understand why agility and flexibility are vital in today’s fast-paced development environments. Explore the role of continuous feedback, backlog grooming, and sprint planning in managing requirements. Grasp why requirements should evolve alongside project deliverables, keeping pace with shifting business goals and market demands.

Module References

There are no module reference contents to display.

Methods of teaching/learning


Introductory lecture (1.50 hours)

This is the first weekly session, dedicated to providing a comprehensive introduction to the module. The module leader will present an overview of the subject, elucidating its importance within various digital engineering professions and its interrelation with other modules. Students will need no preparation ahead of attending this session.

The module leader will provide a structured breakdown of the content to be covered in the subsequent 9 sessions. Students will also receive an outline of the essential reference materials, alongside suggestions for supplementary reading. The format and criteria for the summative assessment will be delineated, followed by a dedicated period for questions and answers.

A recording of the session will be available to facilitate async engagement for any other student who missed the class, also offering an opportunity to review the content again.


Concept learning (knowledge graph) (18.00 hours)

Our institution's approach to teaching is primarily based on flipped learning. Ahead of each weekly session (Workshop/Lab), students will be required to study the essential concepts that are used in the coming session so they are familiar with the theories and ideas related to that session. The study material will be in the form of written content, illustrations, pre-recorded lectures and tutorials, and other forms of content provided through the AGS.

This content is self-navigated by the students, accommodating different learning styles and schedules, allowing students to watch or listen to them at their own pace and review them as needed.


AI formative assessment (9.00 hours)

Once each concept of the theory is studied, students will be prompted to engage in formative assessment with instant AI feedback. They include multiple-choice questions, socratic questions and answers, written questions, role-play and other AI-assisted practice scenarios.

The purpose of this automated formative assessment is to provide students with immediate feedback on their understanding of module material and highlight any areas that need support or further study. They are also used to track student progress, boost motivation and promote accountability.


Case Study Review (9.00 hours)

In this learning activity, students explore recent real-world case studies relevant to their course topic. The case studies will have been selected and curated by the module leader to represent up-to-date examples. They guide students through key details, contextual factors, and outcomes. This approach enhances students' understanding of current industry trends, challenges, and solutions, preparing them for real-world scenarios they may encounter in their future careers.

The learning experienced will be augmented by AI (virtual private tutor) allowing the students to critically engage with the content and discuss the case studies.


AI Roleplay (13.50 hours)

AI Roleplay is an innovative educational approach that leverages artificial intelligence to create immersive, interactive learning experiences for university students. In this activity, students are presented with a professional challenge or scenario relevant to their course. They then engage in a simulated interaction with one or more AI-powered characters, each programmed to embody specific roles, personalities, and expertise.

These AI characters respond dynamically to the student's inputs, creating a realistic and adaptive roleplay environment. Students can practice their communication skills, decision-making, problem-solving, and other professional competencies in a safe, low-stakes setting. After the session, the AI system provides detailed feedback on the student's performance, highlighting strengths and areas for improvement. This personalised guidance helps students refine their skills and gain confidence in handling real-world professional situations.


Workshop/Lab Sessions (13.50 hours)

The 9 weekly sessions following the introduction (weeks 2 to 10) will be dedicated to teaching the contents of the module during interactive workshops. These sessions will complement the theory with practice, experience or analysis. Their purpose is to advance the student's cognition from 'knowledge' to 'understand' and 'apply'.

Depending on the nature of the content, challenges and learning activities will be pre-designed to apply flipped learning, and may include hands-on project work, group discussions or debates, roleplay, simulation, case study or other presentation, and other learning activities and opportunities. These workshops present an opportunity to apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills. They also encourage collaboration and foster a sense of community among students. There will be an opportunity also for Q&A in every session.


Independent reading, exploration and practice (61.50 hours)

This activity challenges students to engage with the reference material and independently explore and analyse academic literature related to the course topic. Students are expected to select relevant sources, practice critical reading skills, and where applicable technical skills, and synthesise information from multiple references. This is an opportunity to enhance research abilities, critical thinking, and self-directed learning skills while broadening and deepening subject knowledge.

Programmes this module appears on

Programme Term Type
1 Digital Project Management (MSc) 1 Core
2 Software Technical Leadership (MSc) 1 Core
3 Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship (MSc) 2 Optional
4 AI for Business Transformation (MSc) 2 Optional
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change.
Module Spec: Modern Requirements Engineering: Crafting Solutions with Precision and Purpose (RE71)