ProductCamp Amsterdam Session 1 Edwin Schumacher

Edwin Schumacher: “Everybody is a Requirements Engineer!” Session #1, 2009 www.productcampamsterdam.org The first European unconference for product managers and marketers.

Everybody is a requirements engineer Edwin Schumacher Synergio B.V. e.schumacher@synergio.nl www.synergio.nl

Observations Requirements management • A specific job • Supply side oriented • A specific methodology – Like a scientific discipline • Specific function – In the delivery organization • Insufficiently exploited Copyright ©© Synergio B.V. 1998 2007 Copyright Synergio B.V. 1998 - - 2009

Mostly used paradigms • Product oriented – product management – Which products or components need to be delivered? – When do they need to be delivered? – Product Breakdown Structure (PBS) • Activity oriented – project management – What needs to be done first, what later? – Who needs to do what by when? – Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Product Breakdown Structure Work Breakdown Structure Copyright ©© Synergio B.V. 1998 2007 Copyright Synergio B.V. 1998 - - 2009

A result oriented paradigm “Start at the end” • Result oriented – Why do we make this investment? Result oriented – Which capabilities will improve with this investment? Result Breakdown Structure – When will we experience the benefits of this Activity oriented investment? Product oriented – What are the exact benefits we can expect? • Use all paradigms Product Breakdown Structure Work Breakdown Structure Copyright ©© Synergio B.V. 1998 2007 Copyright Synergio B.V. 1998 - - 2009

Benefits of a result oriented paradigm • Increased focus on added value • Better sponsorship – Cost and benefits more visible – Improved manageability • Clear distinction between projects en programs • Clear distinction between – Effectiveness – Usability – Manageability • Easier collaboration Copyright ©© Synergio B.V. 1998 2007 Copyright Synergio B.V. 1998 - - 2009

The “start at the end” paradigm • What do you need? – What is the desired end- result – Do all persons involved share the same view on this? • What is possible? – Which needs can be realized? – Which needs are feasible? • What will you get? – Do client and contractor agree on what is asked for and what needs to be delivered? – How can we validate the end result? Copyright ©© Synergio B.V. 1998 2007 Copyright Synergio B.V. 1998 - - 2009

What do you need? Client responsibility • Describe the need, not the solution • Identify and quantify vagueness (fast, more, high, better..) • Provide the requirements with importance and urgency – Allocate requirements to a point in time Copyright ©© Synergio B.V. 1998 2007 Copyright Synergio B.V. 1998 - - 2009

Stay on track Managing change • During its life cycle a product will change a number of times – Requirements – Budget, resource, time changes – Market, technology, competitive, price changes, • How do you stay on track? – Importance • You know exactly what the most important requirements are – Urgency • You know exactly which requirements you need first – Priority • You know where you have the ability to accommodate the change and stay on track to achieve your goals • You know exactly when your goals are at risk to be missed Copyright ©© Synergio B.V. 1998 2007 Copyright Synergio B.V. 1998 - - 2009

What is possible? Supplier responsibility • Realizability – Allocate requirements to a solution = create a Product Breakdown Structure (PBS) – Describe characteristics of the solution – Demonstrate realizability • Feasibility – Allocate the requirements to work = create a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) – Describe characteristics of the work – Demonstrate feasibility Copyright ©© Synergio B.V. 1998 2007 Copyright Synergio B.V. 1998 - - 2009

What will you get? Joint responsibility • Validate the requirements against solutions – Negotiations between client and supplier • Make sure the result can be validated – Create indicators Copyright ©© Synergio B.V. 1998 2007 Copyright Synergio B.V. 1998 - - 2009

Realizing the benefits Return on investment • “Change” side of the house Change Going concern – Formulate needs strategize exploit change use – Deliver solutions • Result oriented • Increased • “Going concern” side demand investment benefits of the house • Change effec‐ • Reduced cost tively – Deploy solutions – Use solutions • Meeting the • Meeting SLA’s needs • Reduced cost • Benefits supply • Short cycles • Reduced cost – Realized within operations design deploy – After the solution is deliver manage deployed and when used Copyright ©© Synergio B.V. 1998 2007 Copyright Synergio B.V. 1998 - - 2009

Summary How Synergio views requirements management • Vision – Working with requirements is a generic capability • Best practice – Start at the end with SMART requirements = result oriented – 24 guidelines to write SMART requirements • Tools – Support vision and best practices – TopTeam requirements management Copyright ©© Synergio B.V. 1998 2007 Copyright Synergio B.V. 1998 - - 2009

ProductCamp Amsterdam Session 1 Edwin Schumacher

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