I have a mission! I want to change the way we “do” requirements! Instead of gathering and documenting requirements, let’s help our project teams DISCOVER requirements, collaboratively! Let’s promote agility and inspire leadership, innovation and creativity.
Some organizations are marching down this future path already and some are stuck in the old “gather and document” mindset. How can you tell where you are at on the timeline between old-school and modern requirements mindset? Here’s a breakdown:
Gather and Document Mindset circa 1998
- Assume everyone knows what they want.
- Gather and document the details that align with scope and vision.
- Fill out templates, draw flow charts, take notes, and schedule meetings.
- Log and track issues and maintain up-to-date, traceable requirements throughout the project lifecycle.
- Pass information between business users and developers.
- Complete requirements in one big chunk, on time, with all required sign-offs.
- In some cases, be the project manager, UAT tester, and the BA at the same time for small to mid-sized projects.
Learn and Discover Mindset circa 2023
- Assume that “what people want” evolves over the course of a project.
- Help the team discover and learn about the details that align to the scope and vision.
- Adapt your requirements discovery approach to meet the unique needs of each project.
- Be a leader. Inspire and motivate ALL stakeholders to communicate and collaborate, both face-to-face and virtually.
- Use a wide variety of interactive and engaging techniques to help stakeholders generate innovative ideas, identify gaps and risks, prioritize needs and features, and solve problems creatively.
- Maintain a strategic mindset. Help the team focus on stakeholder/customer value.
Please join me! Let’s reinvent our approach to requirements! What can you do to help? Throw out the old rule book–question the efficiency and effectiveness of current practices in your organization. Learn, experiment and adapt!