CAPM Practice Exam Question

A business analyst is working on defining the requirements for a new project management tool. During this process, they are asked to document detailed descriptions of how the tool should function from the user’s perspective. What type of requirements is the business analyst primarily working on?

A) Functional Requirements

B) Non-Functional Requirements

C) Business Requirements

D) Transition Requirements

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Best Answer: A) Functional Requirements

Detailed Explanation:

• A) Functional Requirements is the correct answer because functional requirements specifically describe what the system should do. These requirements outline the features, behaviors, and interactions that the system must support to meet the user's needs. When the business analyst is asked to document how the project management tool should function from the user's perspective, they are detailing the system's functional capabilities. Examples of functional requirements include user authentication processes, data input, workflow rules, and reporting functionalities. These are essential for ensuring that the system performs the necessary tasks to satisfy the user's needs and project objectives.
• B) Non-Functional Requirements is incorrect because non-functional requirements define the system's quality attributes, such as performance, security, reliability, and usability. While these requirements are critical to the overall success of the system, they do not describe specific functions or how the system will operate. Non-functional requirements might include the speed at which a report generates, the system’s ability to handle a certain number of concurrent users, or the security measures required to protect user data. They are focused on how the system performs rather than what it does.
• C) Business Requirements is incorrect because business requirements define the high-level needs and objectives of the organization that justify the project. These requirements answer the "why" of the project, providing the business rationale and goals but not the specific functionalities of the system. For example, a business requirement might state the need to improve project tracking efficiency by 20%, but it would not detail how the project management tool should achieve that improvement.
• D) Transition Requirements is incorrect because transition requirements describe the temporary capabilities and activities needed to transition from the current state to the desired future state. These might include data migration plans, training for users on the new system, or changes in business processes. Transition requirements are crucial during the changeover phase but do not describe the functional aspects of the system itself.

In summary, functional requirements are the type of requirements the business analyst is documenting when detailing how the project management tool should function from the user's perspective. These requirements are critical in defining the system's behavior and ensuring it meets user needs. The other options describe different types of requirements that, while important, do not address the specific functionalities of the system being developed.