Select a problem from the dropdown list shown below

Consider the problem statement for an "Online Auction System" to be developed:

New users can register to the system through an online process. By registering a user agrees to abide by different pre-defined terms and conditions as specified by the system. Any registered user can access the different features of the system authorized to him / her, after he authenticates himself through the login screen. An authenticated user can put items in the system for auction. Authenticated users users can place bid for an item. Once the auction is over, the item will be sold to the user placing the maximum bid. Payments are to be made by third party payment services, which, of course, is guaranteed to be secure. The user selling the item will be responsible for it's shipping. If the seller thinks he's getting a good price, he can, however, sell the item at any point of time to the maximum bidder available.

Learning Objectives:

Learn about the three different aspects that have to be taken care of while writing requirements specification
Identifying different functionaries to be obtained from a system.
Identifying characteristics that a system should have, but not done by the system itself.

Limitations: This list is in no way complete; exercise #4 would address this again

Following are the ambiguities

None

There's no specification when an auction gets over

It doesn't say who are registered users

No mention about what technology to be used for developing the application

Following are the inconsistencies

None

An item is said to be sold to the max bidder after auction is over; it can also be sold before the auction is over

A registered user seems could be both buyer and seller

The problem statement is incomplete because

None

No mention of how a new user registers

No mention of any dispute regarding the sold product

No mention of what kind of products could be put on auction

Following functional requirements could be obtained from the requirements specifications

Registration: New users have to register themselves online with the site and accept its terms & conditions

User Login: A user has to login into the site using his correct user ID & password

Upload Item for Auction: An authenticated user can upload an item into the site, which is to be put on auction subsequently

Auction Item: User puts an item already uploaded by him ino the site on auction

Balance Check: Bidder should have enough bank balance to bid

Bid for Item: Any registered & authenticated user of the system could place a bid for an item on auction

Win Auction: After the auction is over, the maximum bidder for the item owns the item post payment

Ship Item: Seller of the item ships the item to the auction owner after he (seller) receives the payment

Availability: The system should remain up & running before, during and after an auction

Remove item: Owner removes an item after uploading it, and doesn't put on auction

Remove auctioned item: System automatically removes an item from its inventory after it has been successfully auctioned

Site Support: Customer care for the website should provide 24x7 help over phone

Following possible non-functional requirements could be identified from the requirements specifications

The system provides option for online registration of new users

The system should remain up & running throughout it's working hours

System automatially removes an item from its database after it has been successfully auctioned

Sessions of different users must not affect each other

Customer care for the website should provide 24x7 help over phone

System should maintain privacy of their users and should not leak their information to third parties

System should be able to service 100 users simultaneously

System could remain unavailable for upto 2 hours for maintenance once in a quarter with 36 hour prior notice

Result