What Is Requirement Analysis?
Requirement Analysis is also called requirements engineering. It is a process that is used to understand the needs and expectations of a new product or service. This process involves analysing, documenting, validating, and managing the requirements. In this process, all the stakeholders, software developers, end-users, and customer managers need to contribute with their understanding of the product. This is mostly done at the beginning of the project to ensure the final product meets the expectations. The requirements of a project should be testable, actionable, documented, measurable and traceable.
What are the Requirement Analysis Steps?
A requirement analysis has a specific goal and specific output. It may affect more than one unit of the organisation. Here are the requirement analysis steps to be followed:
Identify the end-users
The first step in this process is to identify the end-users of the products or services. Their input is paramount for the analysis. Identification of all sponsors, investors, and stakeholders is also necessary. They can suggest what they want to be included in the project scope.
Gather information about Requirements
In this process, it is important to know the requirements of the users. In this phase, communicating with the user is necessary to know their expectations. Many methods can be used to collect information. Some of them are as follows:
- Interviewing with each stakeholder and end-user. This will help to gather specific information.
- Interviewing stakeholders and end-users in groups to understand the flow of information between them.
- Using previous cases helps to visualise how the products will actually work.
- Creating a sample product will help to understand the feasibility issues and identify potential problems.
Categorise the Requirements
There are various types of requirements. They should be categorised according to their types. There are four categories: functional, technical, transitional, and operational requirements. Functional means functions that the product needs to perform. Technical means the issues to be considered. Transition means steps required to implement the product, and operations means the work to be carried out in the backend.
Analyse the Requirements
Once you have put all the requirements in their categories, determine if they are achievable and document them. Now let the other teams including the software developers confirm if the requirements are contradictory, incomplete, unclear, or ambiguous, and solve that problem. The purpose of this step is to analyse the requirements to determine if they are:
- Unique
- Necessary
- Clear
- Complete
- Can be validated
- Technically feasible
- traceable
- Verifiable
- quantifiable
- operationally effective
Enhance the quality of Requirements
Now, you can enhance the quality of the requirements by using visualisation tools, so that stakeholders can understand the end product better. Also, using consistent templates to document the requirements is important.
Model the Requirements
Now you can prepare a model of the requirements. It will help the customers to understand the potential system. Then it can be displayed through flowcharts, graphs, and models.
Review the Requirements
Finally, after the documentation of the requirements is done, review the previous versions of the requirement analysis. Documentation can be done with the help of software requirements specifications, user cases, natural language documents, and process specifications.
What are the Stages of Requirement Analysis?
There are four stages of completing a requirement analysis. This includes drawing the context diagram, developing a sample, modeling, and finalisation. Here are the details:
- Drawing the context diagram: The context diagram helps to find out how to design a new system. These are complex diagrams that display the impact of external factors on the internal system. It also indicates the data flow between the external factors and internal systems.
- Developing a sample: Developing a sample of the required product or services helps to understand the specific requirements of customers. Based on the feedback and suggestions from the customer, the sample can be modified until the customer finds it perfect. A sample helps the client to understand the product to be built and the customer’s expectations. This aids in modifying the product and finalising all the elements in less cost and time.
- Modeling: In this stage, the models of the requirements are created. It allows the stakeholders and customers to imagine the product. Various data, factors, and components are presented graphically. The graph assists in finding the problems in the requirements.
- Finalisation: At this stage, all the problems in the model can be resolved. All the corrections are done and the flow of data is analysed across all the models. This helps in finalising the requirements and starting the project.
Techniques of Requirement Analysis
There are several techniques to conduct requirement analysis. These are some common techniques:
Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN)
BPMN helps to improve the processes. This uses a set of elements and symbols similar to a flowchart. It assists in coordinating the sequence of messages between different participants in a related set of activities. It gives details about who is performing the activities and what data is required for this.
Flowchart technique
A flowchart is a visual presentation of the sequential flow and control logic of a set of related activities. There are three types of flowcharts: linear, top-down, and cross-functional. Even a non-technical team member can easily understand flowcharts. It shows the function and critical attributes of a process.
Unified Modeling Language (UML)
UML is used for software system specification, development, visualisation, and documentation. There are 14 types of UML diagrams, such as case diagrams, interaction diagrams, components, sequence diagrams, etc. System design visualisation becomes standard using UML. Data like structural details, user behaviors, and software interactions are represented through diagrams.
Role Activity Diagrams (RAD)
As a modeling tool, role activity diagrams illustrate the responsibilities individuals play at each stage of the development process. An organisation’s dynamics and structure are depicted through diagrams. By assigning responsibilities to each position, RAD organises software development activities.
Gantt charts
Gantt charts offer graphical depictions of planned work and deadlines. Teams may see the beginning and end dates of each project job in a single view thanks to this technology. It assists team members in knowing what needs to be done by when.
Data flow diagrams
With this method, systems and processes are shown visually. Information flow through a system or procedure is depicted in data flow diagrams. Using notations and symbols, it explains the connections between jobs or items. Teams can more easily find potential flaws in the system by visualizing every component.
Integrated Definition for Function Modeling (IDEF)
A box is used in integrated definition for function modeling to show the functionalities of a process. It also illustrates the connections between the systems of parents and children. IDEF develops a blueprint to aid in the understanding of the organisation’s system by stakeholders.
Gap analysis
Comparing the intended business aim to the baseline is known as gap analysis. It researches the company’s objectives and present activities. A gap analysis outlines objectives such as the project’s present status and the company’s desired future state. It helps the company comprehend how it can get better.
Requirement Analysis Tools
Requirement analysis can be done by using the right tools. Many tools are helpful in completing this task. Here are some common tools used:
- Jama Software
- Caliber
- Visure Requirements
- Orcanos
- Modern Requirements
- Accompa
- ReqSuite
- Perforce Helix RM
- Pearls
It is important to perform requirement analysis for the success of any project. This helps to keep the requirements in line with the needs and objectives of the business. Strong project management solutions provide visibility into the requirements analysis and project planning process. It facilitates requirements gathering from important stakeholders, and allows requirements analysis to take place in a centralised location and workspace.
