Question

You have been asked to take part in a checklist-based review of the following excerpt from the requirements specification for a library system:

Librarians can:
1. Register new borrowers
2. Return books from borrowers
3. Accept fines from borrowers
4. Add new books to the system with their ISBN, author and title
5. Remove books from the system
6. Get system responses within 5 seconds
Borrowers can:
7. Borrow a maximum of 3 books at one time
8. View the history of books they have borrowed/reserved
9. Be fined for failing to return a book within 3 weeks
10. Get system responses within 3 seconds
11. Borrow a book at no cost for a maximum of 4 weeks
12. Reserve books (if they are on-loan)
All users (librarians and borrowers):
13. Can search for books by ISBN, author, or title
14. Can browse the system catalogue
15. The system shall respond to user requests within 3 seconds
16. The user interface shall be easy-to-use
You have been assigned the checklist entry that requires you to review the specification for inconsistencies between individual requirements (i.e., conflicts between requirements).
Which of the following CORRECTLY identifies inconsistencies between pairs of requirements?
A. 6-10, 6-15, 7-12
B. 6-15, 9-11
C. 6-10, 6-15, 9-11
D. 6-15, 7-12

Answer 1

The inconsistencies between pairs of requirements in the checklist are: 6-10, 6-15, and 9-11.

Therefore, the correct answer is: option C). 6-10, 6-15, 9-11

Step-by-step explanation:

There are inconsistencies in the requirements specification for a library system between the response times given to different user roles and the timing related to fines and borrowing periods.

The inconsistencies between pairs of requirements in the given checklist are:

• 6-10: Requirement 6 states that all users should get system responses within 5 seconds, while Requirement 10 states that borrowers should get system responses within 3 seconds. This is a conflict as the response time specified for borrowers is shorter than the response time specified for all users.

• 6-15: Requirement 6 states that all users should get system responses within 5 seconds, while Requirement 15 states that the system shall respond to user requests within 3 seconds. This is a conflict as the response time specified for all users is longer than the response time specified for user requests.

• 9-11: Requirement 9 states that borrowers can be fined for failing to return a book within 3 weeks, while Requirement 11 states that borrowers can borrow a book at no cost for a maximum of 4 weeks. This is a conflict as borrowers can potentially be fined for failing to return a book within the maximum borrowing period specified.