A Taxonomy of Success and Failure Factors in Requirements Engineering for Sustainable Software

Abstract

Requirements Engineering (RE) is a crucial phase in the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) that significantly influences the success or failure of software projects. Despite its importance, there remains no unified taxonomy that systematically classifies the key factors influencing RE outcomes, particularly from a sustainability perspective. This study addresses this gap by conducting a systematic literature review that encompasses approximately twenty-five peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2024. The identified findings were organized into six main categories: Requirements, People, Process, Communication, Tools & Technology, and Documentation, which represent the core dimensions of RE practice. Within each category, success and failure factors were synthesized to illustrate how they influence sustainable software outcomes. The resulting Ishikawa-based taxonomy provides a comprehensive diagnostic framework that integrates technical, human, and organizational aspects to support sustainability-oriented RE practices. The study contributes a structured foundation for assessing RE performance and guiding future sustainability modeling. Future work will focus on empirically validating the proposed taxonomy through case studies and surveys to evaluate its practical applicability in real-world software projects.