Syntactic ambiguity detection framework for software requirements specification

Abstract

In software development, clear and precise requirement specifications are essential for project success. However, ambiguities in software requirements often cause misunderstandings that lead to costly errors and delays. Among the various types of ambiguity, syntactic ambiguity arising from sentence structure poses a significant challenge in requirement specifications. This research introduces the Syntactic Ambiguity Detection Framework (SADF), specifically designed to identify and resolve syntactic ambiguities in software requirement documents. The framework adopts a multi-layered approach that combines linguistic analysis with practical heuristics, developed through a comprehensive review of existing ambiguity detection techniques and related ambiguity knowledge. This review examined various aspects of syntactic ambiguity explored in prior studies, highlighting both the strengths and limitations of current methods. These insights guided the design and development of SADF. To evaluate the framework’s effectiveness, a questionnaire survey was conducted involving experienced Requirement Engineering experts. Their valuable feedback contributed to refining the framework’s components and confirmed its practical utility in guiding engineers to detect syntactic ambiguities more effectively in requirement documents. This collaborative validation process ensured that SADF not only performs theoretically but also meets the practical needs of professionals in the field. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to develop a framework that can help Requirement Engineers with a systematic and user-friendly guideline which facilitates early detection and resolution of syntactic ambiguities, thereby improving the quality of Software Requirement Specification (SRS). Implementing SADF is expected to reduce misunderstandings, minimize costly rework, and streamline the software development life cycle ultimately contributing to more successful project outcomes. In conclusion, the SADF addresses a critical issue in requirements engineering by emphasizing syntactic clarity. The framework developed in this study offers structured guidelines and rules for identifying syntactic ambiguities in Software Requirements Specifications (SRS) and its adoption may help to enhance the quality of requirements specifications and support the overall success and efficiency of software projects.