Weak alignment of requirements engineering (RE) with verification and validation (VV) may lead to problems in delivering the required products in time with the right quality. For example, weak communication of requirements changes to testers may result in lack of verification of new requirements and incorrect verification of old invalid requirements, leading to software quality problems, wasted effort and delays. However, despite the serious implications of weak alignment research and practice both tend to focus on one or the other of RE or VV rather than on the alignment of the two. We have performed a multi-unit case study to gain insight into issues around aligning RE and VV by interviewing 30 practitioners from 6 software developing companies, involving 10 researchers in a flexible research process for case studies. The results describe current industry challenges and practices in aligning RE with VV, ranging from quality of the individual RE and VV activities, through tracing and tools, to change control and sharing a common understanding at strategy, goal and design level. The study identified that human aspects are central, i.e. cooperation and communication, and that requirements engineering practices are a critical basis for alignment. Further, the size of an organisation and its motivation for applying alignment practices, e.g. external enforcement of traceability, are variation factors that play a key role in achieving alignment. Our results provide a strategic roadmap for practitioners improvement work to address alignment challenges. Furthermore, the study provides a foundation for continued research to improve the alignment of RE with VV.

翻译：需求工程（RE）与验证确认（VV）的对齐薄弱可能导致无法按时交付质量合格的产品。例如，需求变更未能有效传达给测试人员，可能导致新需求未被验证、旧无效需求被错误验证，进而引发软件质量问题、资源浪费和工期延误。然而，尽管对齐薄弱影响严重，但研究与实践通常各自聚焦于RE或VV领域，而非二者之间的对齐。我们开展了一项多单元案例研究，通过采访6家软件开发公司的30名从业者，并采用灵活的案例研究流程吸纳10名研究人员参与，以深入探究RE与VV对齐的相关问题。研究结果揭示了当前行业在RE与VV对齐中面临的挑战与实践，涵盖从单个RE和VV活动质量、追踪与工具，到变更控制及在战略、目标和设计层面达成共识等内容。研究发现人员因素（即合作与沟通）处于核心地位，而需求工程实践是对齐的关键基础。此外，组织规模及其应用对齐实践的动机（如外部强制可追溯性要求）是实现对齐的关键变量。我们的研究成果为从业者改进对齐工作提供了战略性路线图，同时为持续优化RE与VV对齐的后续研究奠定了基础。