the twelve keys to effective requirements elicitation (as sung to the tune of the “twelve days of...

The Twelve Keys to Effective Requirements

Elicitation

(As sung to the tune of the “Twelve Days of Christmas”)

The first key to requirements elicitation that my instructor gave to me was…

Focus on your goal• Get full breadth of

requirements• Maximize time of your

stakeholders• Ensure consistent and

feasible• Validate user needs• Manage the session

The second key to requirements elicitation that my instructor gave to me was…

• Interviews, questionnaires, workshops, use cases, brainstorming, role playing, etc

• Must be a good fit for the situation

Select a technique

The third key to requirements elicitation that my instructor gave to me was…

• Right People• Best Methods• Identify Risks• Establish Timetable

Plan

The fourth key to requirements elicitation that my instructor gave to me was…

• Prepare tools• Ensure attendance• Establish objectives• Perform the elicitation

Do

The fifth key to requirements elicitation that my instructor gave to me was…

• Verify effectiveness• Verify techniques• Verify requirements• Communicate results

Check

The sixth key to requirements elicitation that my instructor gave to me was…

• Improve the plan• Correct the process• Change techniques• Update requirements

Act

The seventh key to requirements elicitation that my instructor gave to me was…

• Requirements Level Pattern• To move up – “Why”?• To move down – “How”?

Use Why’s & How’s

The eighth key to requirements elicitation that my instructor gave to me was…

• Ask open-ended questions• Give acceptance cues• Use silence• Verify 80/20 rule

Listen more than speak

The ninth key to requirements elicitation that my instructor gave to me was…

• Who is user of product?• Open ended questions• 80/20 rule

Avoid analyst bias

The tenth key to requirements elicitation that my instructor gave to me was…

• Use decomposition• Breadth then depth• Don’t interrupt• Validate once complete

Brainstorming is your friend

The eleventh key to requirements elicitation that my instructor gave to me was…

• Don’t be afraid to ask a client to clarify or explain

• Stroke ego’s• Utilize a glossary for terms

and acronyms

Help Me Understand

The twelfth key to requirements elicitation that my instructor gave to me was…

• Get support when needed• Use “parking lot”• Give participants pre-work• Use visuals

Employ Tips/Tricks

Wrap Up

• Questions

• Comments