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Difficulties in Elicitation

publish date: 2026/06/06 20:00:11.016845 UTC

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Which of the following are recognized difficulties in eliciting and understanding requirements from stakeholders? Select all that apply.

Different stakeholders have different and sometimes conflicting requirements

The economic environment changes during analysis, causing requirements priorities to shift

Stakeholders naturally express requirements in their own terms with implicit domain knowledge that engineers may not understand

Stakeholders often don't know what they want except in the most general terms and may make unrealistic demands

All stakeholders are always available and willing to participate in requirements meetings

Political factors may influence requirements — managers may demand requirements to increase their organizational influence

Correct Answer

(1) Stakeholders often don't know what they want except in the most general terms and may make unrealistic demands

(2) Stakeholders naturally express requirements in their own terms with implicit domain knowledge that engineers may not understand

(3) Different stakeholders have different and sometimes conflicting requirements

(4) Political factors may influence requirements — managers may demand requirements to increase their organizational influence

(5) The economic environment changes during analysis, causing requirements priorities to shift

Explanation

Five key difficulties: (1) Stakeholders can't always articulate their needs; (2) They use domain terminology engineers may misunderstand; (3) Different stakeholders have conflicting requirements; (4) Political factors influence what managers request; (5) The business environment changes during analysis. Stakeholder availability and willingness is not listed as a fundamental elicitation difficulty.

Reference

Software Engineering, Ian Sommerville, 9th edition

Quizzes you can take where this question appears

Requirements Elicitation and Analysis