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Secrets of Successful Software Requirements
- Secrets of Successful Software Requirements
- Include Use Cases
- Prototype Screens with a Design Tool
- Work Directly with End Users
- Do Iterative Requirements Development
- Place Requirements Documents under Change Control
Place Requirements Documents under Change Control
With all of the time spent on generating clear requirements, it is very important to make sure that all of the requirements documents are included in your change control system. This includes use cases, screen prototypes, technical specifications, and any other documents used to define the requirements.
ConclusionIn this article, we have explored various secrets to make your requirements process successful and ensure that your clients are satisfied with the resulting program even under tight deadlines. At the start of your next project, make sure you have the proper tools in place for a successful requirements iterations including a prototyping program, a tool to write use cases, and a version control program. These tools do not have to be expensive, and they will help to get your requirements right and schedule under control.
About the AuthorIgor Jese works in software development since early 1990s, with emphasis on software requirements and development methodology. He is a certified Software Requirements Expert and Project Management Professional, and also the author of Mockup Screens, a popular tool for quick GUI prototyping.
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You are absolutely right ! Been there, done that for 10+ years in a global business environment, and currently offering this as a service for companies who don't have the skills in-house.
What you described is the role of Product Management in a (software) product development environment: to act as the intermediary between the "business" (users, general management, marketing, sales, finance, and who knows else...) and the development team. Consolidate the business requirements, match these against (corporate) strategy, and work closely with the development team to translate the results into technological solutions.
Based on my experience, in many companies this is an underestimated, or even totally ignored part of product development. But, if implemented well, it leads to quicker development cycles, higher quality software, and feature-sets that meet or even exceed the expectations of the end-users. As a result:
and most importantly
To do this right, you need professionals who have the skills to understand / interpret business needs, as well as how technology can be applied to address these. This is a challenging task in a project for a single company, more challenging when you're talking about a single country, multi-client (commercial) application, and a potential nightmare if you're dealing with a (large) number of clients across multiple countries.
People who can do this well are rare, but worth their weight in gold ! With their support, a development team can decrease time-to-market, improve quality, and start to truly deliver on customers' needs.
Erwin Bergsma
Managing Director - Global Retail Business Solutions Ltd
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