Requirement gathering is the process of discovering and documenting the features of an intended product or system. It generally involves understanding some sort of problem and providing a solution for it.
Before beginning work on a project, you should gather requirements from the stakeholders to acquire a good understanding of how the product or system should operate. Like a legal contract, it is always good practice to capture requirements in detail as everyone has their own set of general project assumptions regarding what should be included in a project.
Generally, the literature defines two main types of requirements. Firstly, business requirements which define what the project should do, also referred to as ‘functional requirements.’ Secondly, technical requirements which define how projects fulfill business requirements, also known as ‘non-functional requirements.’
In some modern software development methodologies, requirements gathering might seem like an unnecessary procedure or something we can learn as the project develops. This is not the case as poor requirements gathering can lead to detrimental consequences such as poor architecture of the system or high amounts of rework. It’s difficult to reach your goals if you don’t know what they are. Poor requirements management is to blame for 47% of unfulfilled project objectives.
Robust requirements gathering begins with the overall project objective. People will be tempted to suggest all kinds of features, therefore you need to be aware of whether or not they advance the main objective of the project. It is a good strategy to stick to a core set of requirements to get a project delivered. Projects can be phased, after all, and generally not all features are required in the first release of a product or system. ‘Requirement bloat’, as various stakeholders throw in their opinions is a common problem which can cause project to grow beyond their initial intention. Keeping the project core objectives in mind at all times cannot be overstated.
It’s also a good idea to develop a written strategy for gathering requirements. As a result, the process is easier for you to control and more predictable for all parties involved in the project. Structured questions can help to minimise missing requirements which is a common problem. Due to the complexity of software systems it is very easy for things to be missed. A robust process can help reduce the level of missed requirements.
In order to determine a complete and detailed requirement specification and project scope based on outcomes, our new product Requiment helps you by guiding the user through pre-prepared questions. This program will serve as a virtual business analyst, assisting users with the requirements process and offering advice and suggestions based on the type of application being developed. Our ultimate goal with Requiment is to increase the accuracy, agility, and efficiency of the software requirements capture process, resulting in more successful projects.
Read our ‘Complete Guide to Requirements Gathering in 2023‘ for more!