Handling Non-Functional RequirementsOn an Agile ProjectKen HowardImproving Enterprisesken@improvingenterprises.comBlog: www.agilist.net

Here’s my story…As an Agile Consultant, I want to travel from Dallas to Chicago so that I can present at Agile2009.

As an Agile Consultant, I want to travel from Dallas to Chicago so that I can present at Agile2009.quickly ^

As an Agile Consultant, I want to travel from Dallas to Chicago so that I can present at Agile2009.quickly, affordably & safely ^

Why do Non-Functionals Matter?

Quick Refresher…Functional RequirementsThe Batmobile Shall…Start when a key is turned.Accelerate from 0..60 in 3 secondsDecelerate when the brakes are pressed.Non-Functional RequirementsThe Batmobile Shall be…FastFuel EfficientReliableComfortableBulletproof

Fast

Fuel Efficient

Reliable

Comfortable

Bulletproof

Lingo CheckNon Functional RequirementsNFRsConstraints…ilitiesQuality RequirementsOperational RequirementsSystem AttributesOther labels??

Try this… Draw a pizza that has eight slices with three lines.

“Projects without clear goals will not achieve their goals clearly.” Thomas Gilb“Design is the progressive elimination of ambiguity.” Gerald Weinberg

Remember……every problem……has many possible solutions.

Narrowing the Field of CandidatesLimitationsPossible SolutionsConstraintsConstraintsAttributesLimitationsAnti-PreferencesConstraints

Grammatical AdornmentsAs a fox, I can jump over the dog.+ Adjectives & AdverbsAs a quick brown fox, I can jump quickly over the lazy dog.

Adjectives can be Subjective…

Adjectives can be Relative…Okay, so you want a nice cake?YES!!YES!!

Context Matters……shallbe dressed appropriately

Context Matters……shallbe dressed appropriately

Non Functional RequirementsSystem DimensionContext(What)AttributeShall Be…MetricHow we’ll know“Should” Value“Must” Value

Non Functional Requirements“Check Out” TransactionContext(What)EfficientShall Be…# Clicks RequiredHow we’ll knowShould: < 5Must: <10

Adjective/Adverb Yardsticks…Nice but not required.Elapsed seconds from “submit” to displayAs a CSR, I can quickly retrieve a customer record so that I can provide efficient customer service.Nope, never, no way…

Non Functional RequirementsTry some…

How do you measure…User FriendlyEfficientFastResponsiveReliableSecureAccessiblePortableCompliantEasily MaintainableHighly Available

The NFR SCRUM Dilemma…User Stories are meant to be completed.Most NFR’s must be addressed throughout the project.Tunnel vision: when focused on a story, it’s easy to forget about NFR’s (e.g. user friendly was nailed in Sprint 1, but overlooked in Sprint 3)

The Non Functional Requirement……within a User StoryAs a Blogger, I want topost an entry quickly and efficientlyso that I can easily update my blog.

The Non Functional Requirement……making it testable:Test that…A blog entry can be posted in less than 3 keystrokes.A blog entry can be posted in under 5 seconds.

A blog entry can be posted in less than 3 keystrokes.

A blog entry can be posted in under 5 seconds.

The Non Functional Requirement……as a User StoryAs a Blogger, I want tosupport many web feed formats so that I can reach a wide audience

The Non Functional Requirement……making it testable:Test that…RSS 1.0 is supported.RSS 2.0 is supported.Atom 0.3 is supported.Atom 1.0 is supported.

RSS 1.0 is supported.

RSS 2.0 is supported.

Atom 0.3 is supported.

Atom 1.0 is supported.

What we’re really talking about is....how to handle something that has a potential impact on all stories and tasks.Given <a condition>When <event occurs>Then<system should ...>Given <a condition>When <event occurs>Then<system should ...>What’s the most efficient way to do this?Given <a condition>When <event occurs>Then<system should ...>Given <a condition>When <event occurs>Then<system should ...>Given <a condition>When <event occurs>Then<system should ...>Given <a condition>When <event occurs>Then<system should ...>As a Blogger, I want topost an entryquickly and efficientlyso that I can easily update my blog.

The System MUST be SOX Compliant…How do we make sure?

NFR IdeaRegression tests for NFR’s

NFR IdeaNFR Filters Applied to Each StoryAs a Blogger, I want toquickly and efficientlypost an entryso that I can easily update my blog.User FriendlyEfficientAs a Blogger, I want topost an entryso that I can update my blog.

NFR IdeaReminder radiators…User FriendlyFastEfficient

NFR IdeaAssign NFR StewardsUser FriendlyUser FriendlyFastEfficient

NFR IdeaOthers?What have you done?

Feel free to…Email me. Call me. Read my Blog.…Hire us!Ken Howardken@improvingenterprises.comBlog: www.agilist.net972.467.3001