Documenting Software Requirements: How to Do It Right?
Global digitalization is leading to a drastic increase in the number of software companies offering their services. However, statistically, 17% of IT projects fail, which leads to irreparable consequences for businesses, 7% of projects exceed their deadlines, and nearly half of them overrun their budget.
Analyzing business requirements increases the chances of finishing the project on time by 75% and allows business owners to save up to half of the project’s budget.
Three reasons why you should document the requirements
Below are the most important reasons why analyzing business requirements and carefully documenting them during Project Discovery is crucial for a project.
Better project traceability
Thanks to the documents created by a Business Analyst, the team and stakeholders are on the same page regarding the developmental and testing processes. Everybody who is involved in the project knows exactly what needs to be done and what the project goals, scope, challenges, functional and non-functional requirements, and budget are.
The information both on specific tasks and on the general direction of work is always available. This allows the customer to stay up to date with the development process and even direct it. More importantly, structuring the requirements and storing them in one place make the project’s details clear to stakeholders, and therefore, the resulting product will meet their expectations to the fullest extent.
Efficient troubleshooting
Scope creep refers to the expansion of a project’s functionality that is beyond control. As a result, the development can substantially exceed the planned budget and timelines. This issue arises when the customers come up with many different ideas that haven’t been analyzed and prioritized by a dedicated specialist. This issue is found in about half of all projects, which means that only half of them are implemented on budget and within the timelines.
Meanwhile, carefully prepared business analysis documentation guarantees that, if your large-scale project expands, that can be easily controlled, and the developmental process won’t turn into a disaster due to multiple changes and gold plating.
Consistency of requirements
Keeping all the Business Analyst’s documents in one place ensures that the requirements can be restored even in case of data loss or data leakage. Such issues can occur when a team member leaves the project, the requirements become outdated, or if different sources contain contradictory information.
When the requirements are carefully documented, you as the customer can be sure that every idea, insight, and suggestion that was made is taken into account, analyzed, structured, documented, and updated by the team of experts.
In the next episode we will know what artifacts in software engineering are and how they help you reduce project costs⭐️
#Discovery
Global digitalization is leading to a drastic increase in the number of software companies offering their services. However, statistically, 17% of IT projects fail, which leads to irreparable consequences for businesses, 7% of projects exceed their deadlines, and nearly half of them overrun their budget.
Analyzing business requirements increases the chances of finishing the project on time by 75% and allows business owners to save up to half of the project’s budget.
Three reasons why you should document the requirements
Below are the most important reasons why analyzing business requirements and carefully documenting them during Project Discovery is crucial for a project.
Better project traceability
Thanks to the documents created by a Business Analyst, the team and stakeholders are on the same page regarding the developmental and testing processes. Everybody who is involved in the project knows exactly what needs to be done and what the project goals, scope, challenges, functional and non-functional requirements, and budget are.
The information both on specific tasks and on the general direction of work is always available. This allows the customer to stay up to date with the development process and even direct it. More importantly, structuring the requirements and storing them in one place make the project’s details clear to stakeholders, and therefore, the resulting product will meet their expectations to the fullest extent.
Efficient troubleshooting
Scope creep refers to the expansion of a project’s functionality that is beyond control. As a result, the development can substantially exceed the planned budget and timelines. This issue arises when the customers come up with many different ideas that haven’t been analyzed and prioritized by a dedicated specialist. This issue is found in about half of all projects, which means that only half of them are implemented on budget and within the timelines.
Meanwhile, carefully prepared business analysis documentation guarantees that, if your large-scale project expands, that can be easily controlled, and the developmental process won’t turn into a disaster due to multiple changes and gold plating.
Consistency of requirements
Keeping all the Business Analyst’s documents in one place ensures that the requirements can be restored even in case of data loss or data leakage. Such issues can occur when a team member leaves the project, the requirements become outdated, or if different sources contain contradictory information.
When the requirements are carefully documented, you as the customer can be sure that every idea, insight, and suggestion that was made is taken into account, analyzed, structured, documented, and updated by the team of experts.
In the next episode we will know what artifacts in software engineering are and how they help you reduce project costs⭐️
#Discovery
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What artifacts in software engineering are and how they help you reduce project costs
Artifacts are items created in the course of project development that don’t pertain to the product itself but help the team work on it. Business Analysts are responsible for the preparation of the following software engineering artifacts.
Meeting agenda
Denoscription. Agenda is an artifact prepared before every meeting of the shareholders with the team and the meetings of the team members with each other. The goal of this artifact is to outline the key features of the forthcoming meeting. These meetings are conducted in order to elicit and specify the requirements, discuss important issues, and agree on a single vision for the product.
The meeting agenda includes the following information:
📎general information about the meeting, i.e. its topic, time, location, and duration
📎the number of participants and their positions
📎issues to be discussed
📎expected results
📎additional materials, e.g. preparatory documents
Value. The agenda is extremely helpful in terms of making the meetings more productive as everybody knows the discussion plan and prepares for the event in advance. This artifact in software engineering saves the shareholders’ time allowing them to concentrate on the most important issues, meaning that more time will be spent on delivering value to the project.
Average preparation time: from thirty minutes to an hour.
A follow-up email
Denoscription. This document summarizes the results of a meeting. It’s usually prepared in the format of an email which is compiled and sent to all the meeting participants after the meeting. Its purpose is to record the negotiation results and establish contact between everybody who was in the meeting.
Value. The follow-up email provides a clear vision of the development, including a recap of agreed items, proposed solutions, and received feedback. For the customer, it is a proven way to ensure that their position was rightly understood and the designed features will meet their expectations.
Average preparation time: from thirty minutes to an hour.
In the next episode we will continue looking through the artifacts in software. Stay tuned ⭐️
#Discovery
Artifacts are items created in the course of project development that don’t pertain to the product itself but help the team work on it. Business Analysts are responsible for the preparation of the following software engineering artifacts.
Meeting agenda
Denoscription. Agenda is an artifact prepared before every meeting of the shareholders with the team and the meetings of the team members with each other. The goal of this artifact is to outline the key features of the forthcoming meeting. These meetings are conducted in order to elicit and specify the requirements, discuss important issues, and agree on a single vision for the product.
The meeting agenda includes the following information:
📎general information about the meeting, i.e. its topic, time, location, and duration
📎the number of participants and their positions
📎issues to be discussed
📎expected results
📎additional materials, e.g. preparatory documents
Value. The agenda is extremely helpful in terms of making the meetings more productive as everybody knows the discussion plan and prepares for the event in advance. This artifact in software engineering saves the shareholders’ time allowing them to concentrate on the most important issues, meaning that more time will be spent on delivering value to the project.
Average preparation time: from thirty minutes to an hour.
A follow-up email
Denoscription. This document summarizes the results of a meeting. It’s usually prepared in the format of an email which is compiled and sent to all the meeting participants after the meeting. Its purpose is to record the negotiation results and establish contact between everybody who was in the meeting.
Value. The follow-up email provides a clear vision of the development, including a recap of agreed items, proposed solutions, and received feedback. For the customer, it is a proven way to ensure that their position was rightly understood and the designed features will meet their expectations.
Average preparation time: from thirty minutes to an hour.
In the next episode we will continue looking through the artifacts in software. Stay tuned ⭐️
#Discovery
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Let's continue to discuss BA/SA artifacts in software engineering 🤓
🔶Vision & Scope document
Denoscription. Different types of documents from a Business Analyst are required depending on the project’s specific needs. Each of the following documents covers a particular area of the project/product and has a different scope.
The Vision & Scope document consists of the following two parts:
🔸The vision part is a high-level denoscription of a solution that needs to be delivered. This concept identifies current issues and the ways to solve them, business opportunities, and concomitant risks, and includes the metrics that will help you successfully reach your goals.
🔸The scope part specifies the amount of work to be done in order to achieve the goals. It lists project deliverables in the form of features developed in each release, basic assumptions, dependencies, the industry rules, and other limitations imposed on software.
Value. The Vision & Scope document helps all the stakeholders have the same vision of the project goals and a clear understanding of what needs to be done to achieve the needed outcomes. It allows the project participants to avoid misunderstandings early in the software development life cycle that could otherwise result in a costly and time-consuming rework.
Average preparation time: from two to four weeks.
🔶Software Requirements Specification
Denoscription. This extensive Business Analyst’s artifact contains detailed product information, including the methodologies that will be applied, the technology stack, functional and non-functional requirements, etc.
Value. SRS serves as a detailed plan for custom software development containing all the necessary information about the product’s functionality, features, and limitations. It helps both the customer and the IT vendor be on the same page regarding these important issues. The document contains precise requirements assessment and precedes the architecture and design stage. Such thorough planning allows the customer to avoid a costly rework and obtain accurate information as to the development cost, timelines, and risks.
Average preparation time: from four to eight weeks.
🔶User stories, user story maps, and use cases
Denoscription. A user story describes a software feature from a user's perspective and serves as a basis for collecting and documenting user requirements. It describes user types, needs, and expectations so that the developers can deliver a user-oriented product that brings value to end-users.
User stories are normally visualized in the form of user story maps. The latter allows the team to prioritize user stories and match them with the corresponding functionality.
A use case is a written denoscription of a sequence of simple steps which the users take to perform the necessary actions. It outlines the system's behavior from a user’s point of view.
Value. All of the aforementioned software engineering artifacts allow Business Analysts to implement a user-driven approach to software design and ensure that the developed product satisfies the needs of end-users, thus, increasing the product’s popularity in the market.
Average preparation time: a user story/a use case — less than a day, a user story map — up to five days.
🔶Vision & Scope document
Denoscription. Different types of documents from a Business Analyst are required depending on the project’s specific needs. Each of the following documents covers a particular area of the project/product and has a different scope.
The Vision & Scope document consists of the following two parts:
🔸The vision part is a high-level denoscription of a solution that needs to be delivered. This concept identifies current issues and the ways to solve them, business opportunities, and concomitant risks, and includes the metrics that will help you successfully reach your goals.
🔸The scope part specifies the amount of work to be done in order to achieve the goals. It lists project deliverables in the form of features developed in each release, basic assumptions, dependencies, the industry rules, and other limitations imposed on software.
Value. The Vision & Scope document helps all the stakeholders have the same vision of the project goals and a clear understanding of what needs to be done to achieve the needed outcomes. It allows the project participants to avoid misunderstandings early in the software development life cycle that could otherwise result in a costly and time-consuming rework.
Average preparation time: from two to four weeks.
🔶Software Requirements Specification
Denoscription. This extensive Business Analyst’s artifact contains detailed product information, including the methodologies that will be applied, the technology stack, functional and non-functional requirements, etc.
Value. SRS serves as a detailed plan for custom software development containing all the necessary information about the product’s functionality, features, and limitations. It helps both the customer and the IT vendor be on the same page regarding these important issues. The document contains precise requirements assessment and precedes the architecture and design stage. Such thorough planning allows the customer to avoid a costly rework and obtain accurate information as to the development cost, timelines, and risks.
Average preparation time: from four to eight weeks.
🔶User stories, user story maps, and use cases
Denoscription. A user story describes a software feature from a user's perspective and serves as a basis for collecting and documenting user requirements. It describes user types, needs, and expectations so that the developers can deliver a user-oriented product that brings value to end-users.
User stories are normally visualized in the form of user story maps. The latter allows the team to prioritize user stories and match them with the corresponding functionality.
A use case is a written denoscription of a sequence of simple steps which the users take to perform the necessary actions. It outlines the system's behavior from a user’s point of view.
Value. All of the aforementioned software engineering artifacts allow Business Analysts to implement a user-driven approach to software design and ensure that the developed product satisfies the needs of end-users, thus, increasing the product’s popularity in the market.
Average preparation time: a user story/a use case — less than a day, a user story map — up to five days.
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☝️It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words. For people, it is much easier to comprehend abstract information by looking at it, visualizing it in their mind, and thus, seeing the whole picture.
According to Statista, the value of the global data visualization market is projected to reach $7.76 billion in 2023, growing by about 9% yearly. This fact alone proves data visualization tools are an effective means for providing better perception and cognition of information.
Three reasons why you should visualize the requirements
A rule of thumb states that the more complicated software architecture is, the more detailed and structured the visualization of every part of the system should be. Functional requirements in business analysis that are presented graphically communicate some types of information more efficiently than text. For example, it’s easier to describe a system’s data flow with diagrams and the interface details with wireframes and prototypes, rather than writing dozens of text documents for this purpose.
Below are several benefits that proper visualization of requirements brings to a project:
🔶A holistic view of the system’s functionality
Indivisible software requirements contained in a Business Analyst’s documents that describe the system’s design, the testing process, and work management are called atomic requirements. Along with the undeniable benefits that well-documented requirements bring to a project they have a serious drawback. Namely, they prevent shareholders from embracing the system as a whole and understanding the designed business logic and software functionality clearly. All that customers see is a broad to-do list with no idea how everything is going to be implemented.
The requirements visualized by a Business Analyst allow customers to see the scale and complexity of a product and its functionality. This is extremely important for accurate estimation of budget and timelines. Additionally, the product’s graphic representation marks the first step in transforming rough requirements into a well-designed solution with a detailed plan for its implementation.
🔶Requirements verification
By visualizing requirements, Business Analysts are able to identify errors, missing requirements, and lacking coverage of the designed functionality with use cases.
There always exists a strong temptation to start the development process right after the requirements are elicited and documented. However, in the early stages of a project lifecycle, the concept that is being designed is full of flaws and inaccuracies due to the lack of user and customer feedback. In addition, the development team might not understand the product goals clearly.
The aim of visualizing the Business Analyst’s functional requirements is to construct a completed piece of business/user flow with all possible scenarios involved. This helps a Business Analyst identify unaccounted aspects of the functionality, ensure logical consistency of the designed model and the exhaustive nature of the documentation where all the requirements and use cases are described.
🔶Quick feedback from stakeholders
According to the Agile approach toward custom software development, the customer and the development team need to interact closely so that efficient cooperation can be ensured and a valuable product can thus be delivered. Agile projects necessitate constant communication between the project members, frequent demo meetings, elicitation of valuable insights, and gathering user feedback.
Visualized documents created by a Business Analyst are easily reviewed by the customer who can give feedback quickly. Thus, the product is updated according to new guidelines. As a result, projects develop in a flexible manner, new solutions and approaches are implemented, and shareholders can even be involved in the designing process which adds to the collaboration.
⭐️In the next episode we will find out what artifacts in software development do Business Analysts create by means of visualization
According to Statista, the value of the global data visualization market is projected to reach $7.76 billion in 2023, growing by about 9% yearly. This fact alone proves data visualization tools are an effective means for providing better perception and cognition of information.
Three reasons why you should visualize the requirements
A rule of thumb states that the more complicated software architecture is, the more detailed and structured the visualization of every part of the system should be. Functional requirements in business analysis that are presented graphically communicate some types of information more efficiently than text. For example, it’s easier to describe a system’s data flow with diagrams and the interface details with wireframes and prototypes, rather than writing dozens of text documents for this purpose.
Below are several benefits that proper visualization of requirements brings to a project:
🔶A holistic view of the system’s functionality
Indivisible software requirements contained in a Business Analyst’s documents that describe the system’s design, the testing process, and work management are called atomic requirements. Along with the undeniable benefits that well-documented requirements bring to a project they have a serious drawback. Namely, they prevent shareholders from embracing the system as a whole and understanding the designed business logic and software functionality clearly. All that customers see is a broad to-do list with no idea how everything is going to be implemented.
The requirements visualized by a Business Analyst allow customers to see the scale and complexity of a product and its functionality. This is extremely important for accurate estimation of budget and timelines. Additionally, the product’s graphic representation marks the first step in transforming rough requirements into a well-designed solution with a detailed plan for its implementation.
🔶Requirements verification
By visualizing requirements, Business Analysts are able to identify errors, missing requirements, and lacking coverage of the designed functionality with use cases.
There always exists a strong temptation to start the development process right after the requirements are elicited and documented. However, in the early stages of a project lifecycle, the concept that is being designed is full of flaws and inaccuracies due to the lack of user and customer feedback. In addition, the development team might not understand the product goals clearly.
The aim of visualizing the Business Analyst’s functional requirements is to construct a completed piece of business/user flow with all possible scenarios involved. This helps a Business Analyst identify unaccounted aspects of the functionality, ensure logical consistency of the designed model and the exhaustive nature of the documentation where all the requirements and use cases are described.
🔶Quick feedback from stakeholders
According to the Agile approach toward custom software development, the customer and the development team need to interact closely so that efficient cooperation can be ensured and a valuable product can thus be delivered. Agile projects necessitate constant communication between the project members, frequent demo meetings, elicitation of valuable insights, and gathering user feedback.
Visualized documents created by a Business Analyst are easily reviewed by the customer who can give feedback quickly. Thus, the product is updated according to new guidelines. As a result, projects develop in a flexible manner, new solutions and approaches are implemented, and shareholders can even be involved in the designing process which adds to the collaboration.
⭐️In the next episode we will find out what artifacts in software development do Business Analysts create by means of visualization
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What artifacts in software development do Business Analysts create by means of visualization?
Generally, there are five groups of software engineering artifacts provided by a Business Analyst that help companies reduce project costs. They are the following:
🔶 Diagrams
A diagram is a schematic representation of particular processes in a system. Diagrams vary depending on:
🔸their level of abstraction: high-level vs. detailed diagrams
🔸language or notation used for modeling: diagrams are either based on the Unified Modeling Language (UML) or on Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN)
🔸the types of system representation: structural, behavioral, and interaction diagrams.
The most popular diagrams include but are not limited to:
📎 Activity diagrams modeling business workflows as a list of actions and their consequences
📎 Entity-relationship diagrams illustrating the interaction of different entities, e.g. objects, concepts, and people, with each other within a system
📎 Use case diagrams illustrating possible interactions of a user with a system
📎 Class diagrams describing the system’s structure by showing its classes, their attributes, operations, and relationships between objects
📎 Statechart diagrams describing transitions between the states of an entity when a specific event happens
📎 Sequence diagrams showing process interactions arranged in time sequence
📎 End-to-end diagrams describing the entire business process with all possible alternative scenarios and being used for high-level modeling or when onboarding new members of a dedicated software development team
📎 BPMN diagrams describing processes by means of a frequently used language, which helps project participants avoid communication gaps.
Value. Each diagram has its purpose helping Business Analysts conceptualize the requirements at the necessary level of abstraction and identify where information is missing.
Average preparation time: from one to three days.
⭐️In the next episode we will continue discussing what artifacts in software development do Business Analysts create by means of visualization
Generally, there are five groups of software engineering artifacts provided by a Business Analyst that help companies reduce project costs. They are the following:
🔶 Diagrams
A diagram is a schematic representation of particular processes in a system. Diagrams vary depending on:
🔸their level of abstraction: high-level vs. detailed diagrams
🔸language or notation used for modeling: diagrams are either based on the Unified Modeling Language (UML) or on Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN)
🔸the types of system representation: structural, behavioral, and interaction diagrams.
The most popular diagrams include but are not limited to:
📎 Activity diagrams modeling business workflows as a list of actions and their consequences
📎 Entity-relationship diagrams illustrating the interaction of different entities, e.g. objects, concepts, and people, with each other within a system
📎 Use case diagrams illustrating possible interactions of a user with a system
📎 Class diagrams describing the system’s structure by showing its classes, their attributes, operations, and relationships between objects
📎 Statechart diagrams describing transitions between the states of an entity when a specific event happens
📎 Sequence diagrams showing process interactions arranged in time sequence
📎 End-to-end diagrams describing the entire business process with all possible alternative scenarios and being used for high-level modeling or when onboarding new members of a dedicated software development team
📎 BPMN diagrams describing processes by means of a frequently used language, which helps project participants avoid communication gaps.
Value. Each diagram has its purpose helping Business Analysts conceptualize the requirements at the necessary level of abstraction and identify where information is missing.
Average preparation time: from one to three days.
⭐️In the next episode we will continue discussing what artifacts in software development do Business Analysts create by means of visualization
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Let's continue topic what artifacts in software development do Business Analysts create by means of visualization
🔶 Analysis models
An analysis model is an efficient tool developed to show all the aspects of a problem and determine the best way to meet a specific set of user needs. It consists of the most important concepts, dimensions, and indicators used to characterize a research area. This artifact provides a Business Analyst with a template of issues and insights to pay attention to when analyzing a specific requirement.
The most popular analysis models include but are not limited to:
📎 A product roadmap outlining the product’s development, features, and evolution
📎 The business analysis approach describing the approach toward the planning of activities in business analysis and the ways of achieving desired outcomes
📎 The SWOT analysis model evaluating the merits and flaws of a business and identifying opportunities and threats
📎 The PESTLE analysis model evaluating different groups of factors, their possible impact on the product, duration of effect, type of impact, i.e. negative or positive, and level of importance
📎 Requirements prioritization models, e.g. Kano model and Pareto chart, helping Business Analysts deconstruct and prioritize requirements by specific metrics and based on dedicated criteria
📎 A persona describing common interests, needs, behavioral patterns, and expectations of a particular group of end-users who interact with the product in a similar way
📎 Benchmarking charts, graphs, and dashboards visualizing the results of market analysis and comparison of the designed product with the alternatives offered by competitors in an intuitive format convenient for the customer
📎 A conceptual data model structurizing the data related to business processes and performance indicators.
Value. Analysis models allow project participants to conceptualize information about the designed product and extract valuable insights using helpful templates. These documents prepared by a Business Analyst help those involved in the project identify product needs, opportunities for growth, and problem areas that require careful attention.
Average preparation time: from one to three days.
⭐️In the next episode we will continue discussing what artifacts in software development do Business Analysts create by means of visualization
🔶 Analysis models
An analysis model is an efficient tool developed to show all the aspects of a problem and determine the best way to meet a specific set of user needs. It consists of the most important concepts, dimensions, and indicators used to characterize a research area. This artifact provides a Business Analyst with a template of issues and insights to pay attention to when analyzing a specific requirement.
The most popular analysis models include but are not limited to:
📎 A product roadmap outlining the product’s development, features, and evolution
📎 The business analysis approach describing the approach toward the planning of activities in business analysis and the ways of achieving desired outcomes
📎 The SWOT analysis model evaluating the merits and flaws of a business and identifying opportunities and threats
📎 The PESTLE analysis model evaluating different groups of factors, their possible impact on the product, duration of effect, type of impact, i.e. negative or positive, and level of importance
📎 Requirements prioritization models, e.g. Kano model and Pareto chart, helping Business Analysts deconstruct and prioritize requirements by specific metrics and based on dedicated criteria
📎 A persona describing common interests, needs, behavioral patterns, and expectations of a particular group of end-users who interact with the product in a similar way
📎 Benchmarking charts, graphs, and dashboards visualizing the results of market analysis and comparison of the designed product with the alternatives offered by competitors in an intuitive format convenient for the customer
📎 A conceptual data model structurizing the data related to business processes and performance indicators.
Value. Analysis models allow project participants to conceptualize information about the designed product and extract valuable insights using helpful templates. These documents prepared by a Business Analyst help those involved in the project identify product needs, opportunities for growth, and problem areas that require careful attention.
Average preparation time: from one to three days.
⭐️In the next episode we will continue discussing what artifacts in software development do Business Analysts create by means of visualization
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Let's continue topic what artifacts in software development do Business Analysts create by means of visualization
🔶Matrices
The most popular types of matrices include but are not limited to:
🔸 The requirements traceability matrix links product requirements in different stages of their existence, from the time when they were identified up to the time when they are fulfilled. The matrix ensures that the documented requirements will be delivered as requested by stakeholders. It shows the requirements coverage in terms of the number of test cases and their execution statuses.
🔸 The RACI matrix illustrates the goal of a task and the actions required from each involved person to complete it, helping to define the areas of responsibility and assign team members to perform the work.
Value. Matrices allow the team to analyze changes in the requirements and make informed decisions regarding product development. In addition, they ensure efficient communication between team members and with shareholders as everybody is informed about their areas of responsibility and shares a common vision of threats and opportunities related to the project.
Average preparation time: up to two days.
⭐️In the next episode we will continue discussing what artifacts in software development do Business Analysts create by means of visualization
🔶Matrices
The most popular types of matrices include but are not limited to:
🔸 The requirements traceability matrix links product requirements in different stages of their existence, from the time when they were identified up to the time when they are fulfilled. The matrix ensures that the documented requirements will be delivered as requested by stakeholders. It shows the requirements coverage in terms of the number of test cases and their execution statuses.
🔸 The RACI matrix illustrates the goal of a task and the actions required from each involved person to complete it, helping to define the areas of responsibility and assign team members to perform the work.
Value. Matrices allow the team to analyze changes in the requirements and make informed decisions regarding product development. In addition, they ensure efficient communication between team members and with shareholders as everybody is informed about their areas of responsibility and shares a common vision of threats and opportunities related to the project.
Average preparation time: up to two days.
⭐️In the next episode we will continue discussing what artifacts in software development do Business Analysts create by means of visualization
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Let's continue topic what artifacts in software development do Business Analysts create by means of visualization
🔶Wireframes and mock-ups
🔸A wireframe is a schematic representation of a designed software structure. It is a blueprint of the interface that focuses on the prioritization of content, functionalities available, space allocation, and intended behaviors.
🔸A mock-up is a high-fidelity render of the design that showcases what the finished product will look like. Mock-ups are more detailed than wireframes and require more time to create.
Value. The above artifacts in software development help programmers and designers think through the software structure and interface and efficiently communicate with each other when working on web solutions or mobile apps. These documents created by a Business Analyst before the product’s visual design is finalized and the code is written will save you from costly rework.
Average preparation time: from several days to a week.
🔶Prototypes
A prototype is an elementary working model of a product or information system usually built for demonstration purposes. It serves as a basis for future software development. Prototyping allows Business Analysts to research new alternatives to the existing design and test it to finalize the product’s functionality prior to its development.
Value. Prototypes help the project participants grasp the project’s concept and exchange ideas with the customer. They also ensure valuable feedback from the customer and end-users even before the code is written. Thus, the solution’s design can be modified in a timely manner to achieve the best possible results.
Average preparation time: from several days to a week.
☝️Summary
The visual artifacts prepared by Business Analysts bring substantial value to both the customer and the development team. Graphical representations of the Business Analyst’s documents ensure that the product development runs smoothly and help customers avoid costly and time-consuming rework.
🔶Wireframes and mock-ups
🔸A wireframe is a schematic representation of a designed software structure. It is a blueprint of the interface that focuses on the prioritization of content, functionalities available, space allocation, and intended behaviors.
🔸A mock-up is a high-fidelity render of the design that showcases what the finished product will look like. Mock-ups are more detailed than wireframes and require more time to create.
Value. The above artifacts in software development help programmers and designers think through the software structure and interface and efficiently communicate with each other when working on web solutions or mobile apps. These documents created by a Business Analyst before the product’s visual design is finalized and the code is written will save you from costly rework.
Average preparation time: from several days to a week.
🔶Prototypes
A prototype is an elementary working model of a product or information system usually built for demonstration purposes. It serves as a basis for future software development. Prototyping allows Business Analysts to research new alternatives to the existing design and test it to finalize the product’s functionality prior to its development.
Value. Prototypes help the project participants grasp the project’s concept and exchange ideas with the customer. They also ensure valuable feedback from the customer and end-users even before the code is written. Thus, the solution’s design can be modified in a timely manner to achieve the best possible results.
Average preparation time: from several days to a week.
☝️Summary
The visual artifacts prepared by Business Analysts bring substantial value to both the customer and the development team. Graphical representations of the Business Analyst’s documents ensure that the product development runs smoothly and help customers avoid costly and time-consuming rework.
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❓Do you remember some articles ago we start discussing topic MVP?
Here you can refresh the memory:
What the benefits of MVP development are?
What the challenges of MVP development are
Today we discuss How to build an MVP step by step?
Below are the five steps you should take to convert your idea into a well-designed MVP.
🔸Define a goal
To direct the MVP development process and receive the very outcomes you need, it’s essential to work out what your business goal is. This will outline the development helping you to thoughtfully include every feature into the solution according to the problem that its meant to solve, thus, bringing value to your business.
🔸Conduct market research
To verify whether your idea will skyrocket on the market, conduct in-depth research. By doing so, you’ll know what solutions analogous to the one you’re planning to implement already exist and what distinctive features will ensure your product a competitive edge. You’ll also know who your target audience is and how your product can best solve their problem. Finally, by estimating the market size you can calculate the project profitability and evaluate the realistic prospects for your product.
🔸Elicit and prioritize features
To elicit product requirements, prioritize and document its features and qualities, you’ll need a hand of skilled Business Analysts. Agreeing with a customer on software features and requirements is a key part of a Discovery phase, and it’s essential for delivering to the customer the very outcomes they expect.
🔸Create your MVP
When developers work on an MVP, they create a prototype, perform its testing in-house to collect the first feedback, and upgrade the solution during further iterations. Based on the MVP, the team can, at the customer’s desire, upgrade the software delivering them its improved final version.
🔸Iterate
MVP is about an iterative process when you collect feedback, make amendments and again present a new version to users. It may take several iterations before you can tell that a certain MVP version can be considered final but it is worth it.
Here you can refresh the memory:
What the benefits of MVP development are?
What the challenges of MVP development are
Today we discuss How to build an MVP step by step?
Below are the five steps you should take to convert your idea into a well-designed MVP.
🔸Define a goal
To direct the MVP development process and receive the very outcomes you need, it’s essential to work out what your business goal is. This will outline the development helping you to thoughtfully include every feature into the solution according to the problem that its meant to solve, thus, bringing value to your business.
🔸Conduct market research
To verify whether your idea will skyrocket on the market, conduct in-depth research. By doing so, you’ll know what solutions analogous to the one you’re planning to implement already exist and what distinctive features will ensure your product a competitive edge. You’ll also know who your target audience is and how your product can best solve their problem. Finally, by estimating the market size you can calculate the project profitability and evaluate the realistic prospects for your product.
🔸Elicit and prioritize features
To elicit product requirements, prioritize and document its features and qualities, you’ll need a hand of skilled Business Analysts. Agreeing with a customer on software features and requirements is a key part of a Discovery phase, and it’s essential for delivering to the customer the very outcomes they expect.
🔸Create your MVP
When developers work on an MVP, they create a prototype, perform its testing in-house to collect the first feedback, and upgrade the solution during further iterations. Based on the MVP, the team can, at the customer’s desire, upgrade the software delivering them its improved final version.
🔸Iterate
MVP is about an iterative process when you collect feedback, make amendments and again present a new version to users. It may take several iterations before you can tell that a certain MVP version can be considered final but it is worth it.
Nine things to do in your Sprint Planning⭐️
https://www.scrum.org/resources/blog/nine-things-do-your-sprint-planning
https://www.scrum.org/resources/blog/nine-things-do-your-sprint-planning
Scrum.org
Nine things to do in your Sprint Planning
There are eight hours available for Sprint Planning. In those eight hours, a lot can be done. Too often this event is rushed, limiting the ability to maximize the possible achievements. In this article, I share nine things to do to make the most of your Sprint…
Hi Analysts!
Let's choose a topic for the next publication
Let's choose a topic for the next publication
Anonymous Poll
40%
Data Flow Diagram
38%
Sequence diagram
34%
US vs UC
1%
Offer yours in the comments
Sooo and the winner is "Data flow diagram"!
Thank for your votes⭐️
Data Flow Diagram is a way of visualizing the flow of information within a system or process. It highlights the movement of information as well as the sequence of steps or events required to complete a work task. DFDs allow teams to better comprehend how a system works and make it easier for managers to identify and troubleshoot potential problems to improve effectiveness.
DFD could consist of the following components:
🔸Process is part of a system that transforms inputs to outputs. The symbol of a process is a circle, an oval, a rectangle or a rectangle with rounded corners (depending on the type of notation). The process is named in one word, a short sentence, or a phrase that is clearly to express its essence.
🔸Data flow shows the transfer of information from one part of the system to another. The symbol of the flow is the arrow. The flow should have a name that determines what information is being moved and should only transmit one type of information. The arrow shows the flow direction (it can also be bi-directional if the information to/from the entity is logically dependent - e.g. question and answer). Flows link processes, data storages and external entities.
🔸Data storage (or warehouse) is a piece of information to be used or processed at a later time. The symbol of the storage is two horizontal lines. The name of the data storage is a plural noun (e.g. orders) - it derives from the input and output streams of the warehouse. The flow from the data storage usually represents reading of the data stored in the data storage, and the flow to the data storage usually expresses data entry or updating.
🔸External entities (or terminators) communicate with the system and stand outside of the system. It can be, for example, various organizations (e.g. a bank), groups of people (e.g. customers), authorities (e.g. a tax office) or a department (e.g. a human-resources department) of the same organization, which does not belong to the model system.
👉Here are the main rules for creating DFD:
📎Name the entities in a comprehensive way, so that it does not need further comments.
📎Make sure that your diagram is consistent and complete, e.g. none of the elements stand separately.
📎Enumerate the processes. It would be easier to map and refer to them.
📎Make your DFD concise. The maximum number of processes in one DFD is recommended to be from 6 to 9, minimum is 3 processes in one DFD.
Thank for your votes⭐️
Data Flow Diagram is a way of visualizing the flow of information within a system or process. It highlights the movement of information as well as the sequence of steps or events required to complete a work task. DFDs allow teams to better comprehend how a system works and make it easier for managers to identify and troubleshoot potential problems to improve effectiveness.
DFD could consist of the following components:
🔸Process is part of a system that transforms inputs to outputs. The symbol of a process is a circle, an oval, a rectangle or a rectangle with rounded corners (depending on the type of notation). The process is named in one word, a short sentence, or a phrase that is clearly to express its essence.
🔸Data flow shows the transfer of information from one part of the system to another. The symbol of the flow is the arrow. The flow should have a name that determines what information is being moved and should only transmit one type of information. The arrow shows the flow direction (it can also be bi-directional if the information to/from the entity is logically dependent - e.g. question and answer). Flows link processes, data storages and external entities.
🔸Data storage (or warehouse) is a piece of information to be used or processed at a later time. The symbol of the storage is two horizontal lines. The name of the data storage is a plural noun (e.g. orders) - it derives from the input and output streams of the warehouse. The flow from the data storage usually represents reading of the data stored in the data storage, and the flow to the data storage usually expresses data entry or updating.
🔸External entities (or terminators) communicate with the system and stand outside of the system. It can be, for example, various organizations (e.g. a bank), groups of people (e.g. customers), authorities (e.g. a tax office) or a department (e.g. a human-resources department) of the same organization, which does not belong to the model system.
👉Here are the main rules for creating DFD:
📎Name the entities in a comprehensive way, so that it does not need further comments.
📎Make sure that your diagram is consistent and complete, e.g. none of the elements stand separately.
📎Enumerate the processes. It would be easier to map and refer to them.
📎Make your DFD concise. The maximum number of processes in one DFD is recommended to be from 6 to 9, minimum is 3 processes in one DFD.
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How to Excel in Your Career as a Business Analyst🤓
https://www.modernanalyst.com/Resources/Articles/tabid/115/ID/6107/How-to-Excel-in-Your-Career-as-a-Business-Analyst.aspx
Can you add your own tips?⭐️
https://www.modernanalyst.com/Resources/Articles/tabid/115/ID/6107/How-to-Excel-in-Your-Career-as-a-Business-Analyst.aspx
Can you add your own tips?⭐️
Modernanalyst
How to Excel in Your Career as a Business Analyst
Being successful as a business analyst is not a feat - reserved for a select few. Neither is it rocket science. It is achievable and within your grasp, if you apply a well-rounded approach to how you manage your career. While these tips are centered around…
👍2
The Business Analyst in the SDLC: the global source of product knowledge
The Business Analyst is one of the backbones of the SDLC. This professional is responsible for the result and should be as concerned as the owner of the product. Let's see what the Business Analyst does at each stage of the SDLC.
⭐️Stage 1. Pre-sale — establishing contact with the customer.
Pre-sale is an important stage in getting along with the customer. The Business Analyst explores what their IT company can offer to the customer: makes a list of the functionality of a future application, prepares a team estimation, and takes into account other important aspects. At this stage, the Business Analyst is needed to create the correct vision of the product, cover it in as much detail as possible, and perform functional decomposition, based on which developers will conduct estimation.
⭐️Stage 2. Requirements’ analysis.
The details of this stage are described above. The Business Analyst conducts a discovery phase, where a deep analysis of the requirements of the future functionality and accurate estimation are required.
⭐️Stage 3. Implementation.
At this stage, the Business Analyst provides programmers with elaborated, analyzed, and approved requirements during each sprint. This ensures that there will be no chaos during the project and the least number of bugs will penetrate into the product.
⭐️Stage 4. Testing.
Since QA specialists are guided by the product requirements, the Business Analyst’s participation in the testing stage is mandatory. If a QA engineer has any concerns, the Business Analyst will investigate the bug and determine whether it is a defect that needs to be “cured.” The Business Analyst will take control of the error and think of how to prevent it from emerging again.
⭐️ Stage 5. Release.
The Business Analyst monitors how consumers use the product. This expert gathers information and reviews, communicates with the support service, and analyzes what can be improved in the application. These desires are taken into account in the next sprint. Thus, the team creates a better version of the program that is more useful and valuable to consumers.
⭐️Stage 6. Maintenance.
Developers and other specialists will have many questions. The Business Analyst, participating in all stages of the project, is the global source of product knowledge. That’s why everyone can seek valuable advice from them.
The Business Analyst is one of the backbones of the SDLC. This professional is responsible for the result and should be as concerned as the owner of the product. Let's see what the Business Analyst does at each stage of the SDLC.
⭐️Stage 1. Pre-sale — establishing contact with the customer.
Pre-sale is an important stage in getting along with the customer. The Business Analyst explores what their IT company can offer to the customer: makes a list of the functionality of a future application, prepares a team estimation, and takes into account other important aspects. At this stage, the Business Analyst is needed to create the correct vision of the product, cover it in as much detail as possible, and perform functional decomposition, based on which developers will conduct estimation.
⭐️Stage 2. Requirements’ analysis.
The details of this stage are described above. The Business Analyst conducts a discovery phase, where a deep analysis of the requirements of the future functionality and accurate estimation are required.
⭐️Stage 3. Implementation.
At this stage, the Business Analyst provides programmers with elaborated, analyzed, and approved requirements during each sprint. This ensures that there will be no chaos during the project and the least number of bugs will penetrate into the product.
⭐️Stage 4. Testing.
Since QA specialists are guided by the product requirements, the Business Analyst’s participation in the testing stage is mandatory. If a QA engineer has any concerns, the Business Analyst will investigate the bug and determine whether it is a defect that needs to be “cured.” The Business Analyst will take control of the error and think of how to prevent it from emerging again.
⭐️ Stage 5. Release.
The Business Analyst monitors how consumers use the product. This expert gathers information and reviews, communicates with the support service, and analyzes what can be improved in the application. These desires are taken into account in the next sprint. Thus, the team creates a better version of the program that is more useful and valuable to consumers.
⭐️Stage 6. Maintenance.
Developers and other specialists will have many questions. The Business Analyst, participating in all stages of the project, is the global source of product knowledge. That’s why everyone can seek valuable advice from them.
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