The Essence of Requirement Analysis

Let me start by starting with the most basic question- What is a Requirement? The article (Kumar, 2006) states that Requirements are what a product must do to be useful to its users. These needs can come from a variety of sources, including:

• Compliance:?The product must comply with all applicable standards and regulations.
• Business needs:?The product must address the business needs of its users, such as increasing productivity or reducing costs.
• Business problems:?The product must solve the business problems of its users, such as improving customer satisfaction or reducing fraud.
• Market needs:?The product must meet the needs of the target market, such as offering a new feature or improving an existing one.
• Competition:?The product must be competitive with other products on the market, in terms of features, price, and quality.

In short, requirements are the specifications for a product that must be met for it to be successful.

We know that there are two types of requirements: functional and non-functional. Functional requirements are those that must be met for the product to fulfill its intended purpose and meet the needs of the business and its customers. Non-functional requirements, on the other hand, focus on other important aspects of the product, such as technical requirements, compliance with regulations, and performance.

Some would argue that Non-functional requirements can be overlooked, but, in my understanding, they are just as important as functional requirements. For example, a product that meets all of its functional requirements but is very slow to perform will be frustrating for users and may not be successful in the market. Similarly, a product that meets all its functional requirements but does not comply with applicable regulations may be subject to fines or other penalties.

The "Whole Product Concept" also stresses the importance that a product must meet all of its requirements, in order to be successful. This means that completing a product that meets all of its functional requirements but leaves even one important non-functional requirement unsatisfied is still considered a project failure.

Consider ‘Stitch Fix’, an e-commerce website that delivers customized apparel to customers based on their input. The product manager for Stitch Fix focuses on delivering this core value to customers.

Functional requirements for the website include:

• Browsing products
• Adding items to a cart
• Checking out

Non-functional requirements include:

• Handling a large number of concurrent users
• Securing customer data
• Accessibility for users with disabilities
• Compliance with all applicable regulations

Completing the Stitch Fix website with all functional requirements met but even one important non-functional requirement unmet (e.g., performance requirements) still constitutes a project failure.

Having defined and clarified what requirements are, let's turn to requirements analysis. Requirements analysis is the process of identifying and understanding the needs of stakeholders for a new or modified system or software application. It involves eliciting, interpreting, and representing these needs accurately and transforming them into a set of product requirements. These requirements should be verified to be well-formed (e.g., needed, unambiguous, complete, consistent, correct, feasible, and verifiable) and validated to ensure that they accurately reflect the needs from which they were derived.

In other words, requirements analysis is the process of ensuring that the product being developed meets the needs of the people who will use it. This is done by gathering requirements from stakeholders, analyzing those requirements to make sure they are complete and accurate, and then documenting the requirements in a clear and concise way.

The requirements should also be validated to ensure that they accurately reflect the needs from which they were derived. This can be done by reviewing the requirements with stakeholders and getting their feedback.

A well-conducted requirements analysis can provide several benefits, including:

• Smoother and higher-quality software projects:?By taking the time to understand the needs of all stakeholders, the development team can avoid costly mistakes and ensure that the final product meets everyone's expectations.
• Reduced costs:?By identifying and addressing potential problems early in the development process, requirements analysis can help to reduce costs.
• Increased customer satisfaction:?By ensuring that the product meets the needs of its users, requirements analysis can help to increase customer satisfaction.

Tailoring a Requirement Process :

Now, that we know how important requirement analysis is, let us talk briefly about Tailoring. The article by (Whitaker,2014) states that Tailoring is the process of customizing a methodology to fit the specific needs of an organization and project. This involves using elements from framework documents, standards, and other relevant sources, as well as modifying existing processes used by the organization.

A tailored methodology will be suitable for use in specific types of projects, and it will reflect the size, complexity, and duration of the project, as well as the organizational context and industry within which the project is being undertaken.

A tailored methodology(specifically Project Management) offers the following benefits:

• Team members’ buy-in:?Team members are more likely to support and use a methodology that they have helped to create.
• Customer-oriented focus:?A tailored methodology can help to ensure that the project is focused on meeting the needs of the customer.
• Focus on the best approach for the project:?A tailored methodology can be adapted to fit the specific needs of the project, rather than trying to force the project to fit a pre-defined methodology.
• More efficient use of project resources:?A tailored methodology can help to ensure that project resources are used in the most efficient way possible.

Key Consideration on Tailoring a Requirement Process:

Let me also elaborate on several key considerations that organizations may adopt for the purpose of choosing their criteria for tailoring requirements in accordance with their specific needs.

·?????? Project Complexity: Larger and more complex projects often necessitate the implementation of a more structured and formal requirements process.

·?????? Stakeholder Analysis: An indispensable element which involves the thorough identification and comprehension of the requisites and concerns of all stakeholders.

·?????? Organizational Culture and Maturity: Organizations with a well-established culture of requirements management may opt for a streamlined process, while organizations characterized by adaptability may embrace a more flexible approach to requirements.

·?????? Budget and Resource Constraints: In scenarios where organizations operate with limited financial resources, they may turn to less formal requirements analysis techniques.

·?????? Project Schedule: Tight project schedules may necessitate the implementation of a tailored approach to requirements management and analysis.

In addition to these factors, it is imperative to consider the specific nature of the project or product at hand, as certain endeavors may demand a more rigorous and compliance-driven requirements process.

Conclusion :

Requirements analysis constitutes a pivotal component in the lifecycle of software development projects. Organizations can enhance the likelihood of delivering a product that aligns with user needs by customizing the requirements process to their specific context and objectives.

In essence, a tailored requirements process enables organizations to meticulously identify, document, and prioritize the essential features and functionalities that end-users require. This, in turn, fosters the development of a software product that is not only technically robust but also resonates with and fulfills the expectations of its intended user base.

The essence of Requirement Analysis is to make Businesses translate their visions into reality.

References :

·?????? Coventry, T. (2015). Requirements management – planning for success!: techniques to get it right when planning requirements. Paper presented at PMI? Global Congress 2015—EMEA, London, England. Newtown Square, PA: Project Management Institute.

·?????? Kumar, V. S. (2006). Effective requirements management. Paper presented at PMI? Global Congress 2006—EMEA, Madrid, Spain. Newtown Square, PA: Project Management Institute.?

·?????? Whitaker, S. (2014). The Benefits of Tailoring: Making a Project Management Methodology Fit.?PMI White Paper.