How do you conduct effective requirement reviews with peers and clients?

1 Why are requirement reviews important?

Requirement reviews are a form of requirement validation and verification, which are two related but distinct processes that aim to ensure the quality and suitability of the requirements. Validation is the process of checking whether the requirements meet the stakeholder needs and expectations, and whether they are feasible, realistic, and consistent. Verification is the process of checking whether the requirements are well-defined, unambiguous, testable, and traceable. Requirement reviews can help you achieve both validation and verification by involving different perspectives, feedback, and opinions from your peers and clients, who can identify errors, gaps, ambiguities, inconsistencies, or conflicts in the requirements, and suggest improvements or changes.

2 How to prepare for requirement reviews?

Before conducting a requirement review, you need to prepare yourself and your reviewers by following some steps. First, you need to define the scope, purpose, and objectives of the review, and select the appropriate review technique and format, such as walkthroughs, inspections, or peer reviews. Second, you need to identify and invite the relevant reviewers, who should represent different roles, perspectives, and expertise, such as business analysts, project managers, developers, testers, or end-users. Third, you need to provide the reviewers with the necessary information and materials, such as the requirement documents, specifications, models, or prototypes, and explain the review process, expectations, and criteria. Fourth, you need to schedule the review session, considering the availability, time zones, and preferences of the reviewers, and choose a suitable platform or tool for communication and collaboration.

3 How to conduct requirement reviews?

During the requirement review session, it is important to facilitate discussion and interaction among the reviewers, and ensure that the review is productive, respectful, and constructive. To do this effectively, you should start with an introduction and overview of the review scope, purpose, objectives, and agenda. Remind the reviewers of their roles and responsibilities, then follow a structured systematic approach when reviewing requirements. Encourage questions, feedback, issues, or proposed changes while giving everyone a chance to speak up. Document any review findings such as errors or improvements, then assign actions and owners to resolve them. Finally, summarize the main points and outcomes of the review while thanking the reviewers for their participation.

4 How to follow up on requirement reviews?

After the requirement review session, you need to follow up on the review findings and actions to ensure that the requirements are updated, approved, and communicated accordingly. To do this, you should review and consolidate the review findings, prioritize and categorize them based on their impact, urgency, and complexity. Then, communicate the review findings and actions to the relevant stakeholders, and seek their feedback or approval on proposed changes or improvements. After implementing the changes or improvements in the requirements and verifying their accuracy, update the requirement documents, specifications, models, or prototypes. Additionally, reflect the changes or improvements in the requirement traceability matrix, test cases, or other related artifacts. Finally, notify all stakeholders of the updated requirements and solicit their confirmation or acceptance.

5 What are some common pitfalls and errors to avoid in requirement reviews?

Requirement reviews can be prone to some common pitfalls and errors that can affect their effectiveness and quality; however, by being aware of them and taking preventive or corrective actions, you can minimize these issues. For instance, if you review too many or too few requirements at a time, it can cause fatigue, boredom, or confusion among the reviewers. To avoid this, split the requirements into manageable chunks and limit the review session duration and frequency. Additionally, if you review the requirements too late or too early in the project lifecycle, it can result in wasted time, effort, or resources, or missed opportunities for improvement or alignment. To prevent this, plan and conduct the reviews at appropriate stages such as after the elicitation, analysis, or specification of the requirements or before the development, testing, or implementation of the solution. Additionally, if you review the requirements without a clear scope, purpose, or criteria, it can lead to vague, inconsistent, or irrelevant feedback or issues. To prevent this from happening, define and communicate the review scope, purpose and criteria and ensure they are aligned with the project objectives and stakeholder needs. Lastly, if you review the requirements with biased, unqualified or unengaged reviewers who can compromise the validity, reliability or usefulness of the review findings; to avoid this select and invite reviewers based on their roles perspectives and expertise and motivate and involve them in the review process.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?