The document describes a business analysis compass model for managing requirements. It explains that one should follow the sequence of northeast, east, southeast, northwest, west, and southwest when reducing uncertainty. The model advises iterating between gathering and analyzing requirements in the east-west axis, and between managing and documenting requirements in the north-south axis. Managing requirements gathering is described as the northeast point and documenting requirements analysis as the southwest point.

1. Manage
N More Uncertainty
More Dynamic
Analysis
4 NW NE 1 Manage
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Gathering
W E
Analyze
5 2
Requirements Gather
Requirements
SW
Less Dynamic
SE
6 3
Document Document
Less Uncertainty Analysis S Gathering
More Structured Less Structured
You can reduce Uncertainty effectively when you follow the Cardinal Points
sequence: NE, E, SE, NW, W, SW in the BUSINESS ANALYSIS COMPASS TM 1

2. Business Analysis Cardinal Points TM
EAST – WEST: Requirements Gathering Versus Requirements Analysis
• Avoid Analyzing when you are doing Business Requirements Gathering.
• Avoid Gathering when you are doing Business Requirements Analysis.
• Instead, iterate between Gathering Requirements and Analyzing gathered Requirements
NORTH – SOUTH: Requirements Management Versus Requirements Documenting
• Avoid Documenting when you are doing Business Requirements Management.
• Avoid Managing when you are doing Business Requirements Documenting.
• Instead, iterate between Managing Requirements changes and Documenting changes to
Requirements
NORTH – EAST: Manage your Business Requirements Gathering
NORTH – WEST: Manage your Business Requirements Analysis
SOUTH – EAST: Document your Business Requirements Gathering
SOUTH – WEST: Document your Business Requirements Analysis
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3. For Comments and Questions contact didier@pragmaticohesion.com
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