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Les V1nHiQEwD
Les V1nHiQEwD
Tools for stating a requirement
There are two useful tools for formalising a sponsor’s requirement. They
can help you clarify exactly what the project needs to achieve.
The first tool helps you compare a current unsatisfying situation with a
future satisfying situation.
There are several stages in this process:
- Firstly, you need to think about the current issue in terms of how
urgent and important it is. Then you can assign it a priority level;
- Next, you refine your initial analysis by evaluating how serious the
situation is and how it may progress, the possibility it may reoccur
and possible knock-on effects.
- Finally, you define the desired future situation using the SMART
method. In other words, you outline a specific, measurable,
achievable, relevant and time-bound objective.
The second tool is called functional analysis. This helps you refine the
statement of requirement by analysing the five different types of
function that a product or service may fulfil.
Of course, there’s the primary function, so the reason why the project
exists in the first place. However, there are always secondary functions,
in other words, additional uses. The esteem function basically refers to
emotional expectations such as recognition. The external constraint
function represents all the ethical, environmental and financial
regulations that need to be observed. Finally, internal constraints relate
to in-house norms in areas such as accounting entries.
Now you have this information, you’ll be able to express your project
sponsor’s requirements in a clear and detailed way.
Thank you for your attention, and see you soon!