The software organizations are outsourcing their development activities across the geographical border due to huge business gains. However, the adoption of the global software development (GSD) paradigm is not straightforward; various challenges are associated with it, particularly related to the requirements engineering (RE) process. The objective of this study is to identify the barriers to the RE process faced during GSD. To achieve this, we have conducted a systematic mapping study and questionnaire survey to identify and validate the barriers of the RE process with industry practitioners. A total of 20 barriers were identified and validated with the experts. Moreover, we have performed organization types (client and vendor), organization size (small, medium, and large) and experts’ levels (junior, intermediate, and senior) based analysis to provide a clear understanding of the RE barriers in the three different context. Besides, we have also developed a theoretical framework by mapping the investigated barriers into six core knowledge areas of software process improvement. The mapping results indicated that project administration is the most significant knowledge area of investigated barriers. We believe that the findings of this study will provide a framework that assists the GSD practitioners in developing an effective plan and strategies to improve the RE process in the GSD context.

中文翻译：

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在全球软件开发领域改进需求工程过程的系统研究

由于巨大的业务收益，软件组织正在跨越地理边界外包他们的开发活动。然而，采用全球软件开发 (GSD) 范式并不简单。各种挑战与之相关，尤其是与需求工程 (RE) 过程相关的挑战。本研究的目的是确定 GSD 期间可再生能源过程面临的障碍。为此，我们进行了系统的映射研究和问卷调查，以与行业从业者一起识别和验证可再生能源流程的障碍。专家共确定并验证了 20 个障碍。此外，我们还执行了组织类型（客户和供应商）、组织规模（小型、中型和大型）和专家级别（初级、中级、和高级）基于分析，以提供对三种不同背景下可再生能源障碍的清晰理解。此外，我们还通过将调查的障碍映射到软件过程​​改进的六个核心知识领域，开发了一个理论框架。映射结果表明，项目管理是调查障碍中最重要的知识领域。我们相信，这项研究的结果将提供一个框架，帮助 GSD 从业者制定有效的计划和策略，以改进 GSD 背景下的可再生能源过程。映射结果表明，项目管理是调查障碍中最重要的知识领域。我们相信，这项研究的结果将提供一个框架，帮助 GSD 从业者制定有效的计划和策略，以改进 GSD 背景下的可再生能源过程。映射结果表明，项目管理是调查障碍中最重要的知识领域。我们相信，这项研究的结果将提供一个框架，帮助 GSD 从业者制定有效的计划和策略，以改进 GSD 背景下的可再生能源过程。