1.
Be a Better BA<br />The challenge of the <br />Requirements Workshop<br />

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How hard could it be?<br />

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Our intrepid Business Analysts has invited five project stakeholders along for a requirements verification workshop.<br />She wants to get endorsement on the next 7 requirements the team are working on.<br />

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Let’s take a look at how complex this discussion could get.<br />

5.
R1<br />Our heroine announces Requirement 1 and reads it out. It is simple, straightforward and there is little in the way of exceptions to the core requirement statement.<br />Two stakeholders feel they have something to say on this topic (maybe just so they can feel useful.)<br />Everyone quickly endorses the requirement.<br />

6.
R1<br />R2.1<br />R2<br />Requirement 2 is read out and kicks of a lively discussion about the definition of the word “Shall”. Additionally there is an important and common ‘exception to the rule’ that is discussed robustly by most of the stakeholders.<br />It seems that putting this new function in an IT system is going to be a challenge for some people who like the fuzziness of the rule today.<br />

7.
R1<br />R2<br />R3.1<br />R3.2<br />R3<br />By Requirement 3 everyone is on a roll. Let’s really get into the guts of this issue. There are two points e want to really nail here.<br />

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Let’s stop and look at how this conversation is flowing.<br />

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R1<br />R1<br />R1<br />R2<br />R2.1<br />R2<br />R3.1<br />R3.2<br />R3<br />

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3 Simple requirement statements. <br />And this isn’t even a very thorough conversation. Imagine what it will look like at number 7!<br />

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What’s going to happen in this room?<br />

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What we need…<br />

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14.
Pick your methods<br />Lots of people<br />A professionally facilitated and agenda run meeting, time boxed with any detailed discussions being broken up into smaller facilitated groups<br />Lots to talk about<br />A <br />conversation<br />One topic<br />Just you and me<br />to match your needs<br />

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Read more at<br />www.BetterProjects.net<br />