Abstract
Quality Requirements (QRs, also called non-functional requirements) pose a challenge for agile teams, which tend to prioritize functional requirements in their day-to-day practices. In this paper, we investigate web accessibility as an under-researched example of QRs. We conducted a single case study of the implementation of web accessibility in a large public organization that uses agile methods. Our findings, based on interviews and on-site observations, show how web accessibility is addressed at the organizational level and within agile teams. Despite employing several methods and practices, teams still face challenges, including a broad set of web accessibility standards to comply with, a lack of a unified definition of web accessibility within the organization, limited knowledge of the subject among team members, and shortcomings in web accessibility testing tools. These challenges lead the teams to employ ad hoc approaches in their development. The findings are not specific to web accessibility, and we discuss their implications for QRs in general, particularly in large agile organizations.
Paper Type
Full Paper
DOI
10.62036/ISD.2026.30
Quality Requirements in Large-Scale Agile Development- A Case Study on the implementation of Web Accessibility
Quality Requirements (QRs, also called non-functional requirements) pose a challenge for agile teams, which tend to prioritize functional requirements in their day-to-day practices. In this paper, we investigate web accessibility as an under-researched example of QRs. We conducted a single case study of the implementation of web accessibility in a large public organization that uses agile methods. Our findings, based on interviews and on-site observations, show how web accessibility is addressed at the organizational level and within agile teams. Despite employing several methods and practices, teams still face challenges, including a broad set of web accessibility standards to comply with, a lack of a unified definition of web accessibility within the organization, limited knowledge of the subject among team members, and shortcomings in web accessibility testing tools. These challenges lead the teams to employ ad hoc approaches in their development. The findings are not specific to web accessibility, and we discuss their implications for QRs in general, particularly in large agile organizations.
Recommended Citation
Hakimi, N., Farshchian, B.A. & Mohagheghi, P.(2026). Quality Requirements in Large-Scale Agile Development- A Case Study on the implementation of Web Accessibility. In M. Valenta, B. Mannová, R. Pergl, A. Przybylek, M. Lang, H. Linger, C. Schneider, N. Iivari, & E. Insfran (Eds.), Making ISD Sustainable: Reloaded with AI and Automation (ISD2026 Proceedings). Prague, Czech Republic: Czech Technical University in Prague. ISBN: 978-80-01-07585-2. https://doi.org/10.62036/ISD.2026.30