Off Topic: Capturing Requirements

H

Hardip

Hi All

Apologies for posting this in the MS Project forum but I know some of you
guys are very good project managers and may be able to help me.

I'm working on a project that's quite a mixed bag i.e. infrasturcture
upgrade, new IT systems for finiance or areas such as logistics, wireless,
ERP enhancements, SCADA (production technologies) to simply procuring 500
PC's and hookng them to the network and so on.

I'm trying to create a requirements document so all the key stakeholders /
users outline their needs offline or during workshops. I can then begin the
initiation phase of assessing the business case, understanding the scope etc.

Can anyone recommend a resource for this type of requirements capturing
exercise i.e somettype of document or set of templates. I more than willing
to buy something off-the-shelf as opposed to reinvent the wheel.

I would appreciate any assistance you can provide.

Thanks in advance,
Hardip
 
M

Mike Glen

Hi Hardip ,

Welcome to this Microsoft Project newsgroup :)

Have a look through Companion Products on our web site:
http://project.mvps.org/

Hope this helps - please let us know how you get on :)

Mike Glen
MS Project MVP
 
H

Hardip

Hi Mike,

Thanks for responding. I didn't see anything in the Companion Products
Section that meets my requirements. I can't really use an application add-on
as we have locked down PC's at work so I'm unable to install these.

I would prefer a template enabling me to cover functional and non-functional
requirements capturing preferably in a word or pdf format.

Thanks again,
H
 
J

John Sitka

Talk to your DBA early and often.

I always think the DBA is a key place to go for this stuff.
He knows what the underlying relationships are of the business case (or a generic business case),
or can think abstractly about them. So while you may get many "problem/solution" sets from various
stakeholders a good DBA will recognize the similarities in a lot of them and thus derive a much more focuced
and flexible plan. Hopefully the DBA will have some USE CASE experience as well.
 
M

Mike Glen

You're welcome, Hardip - good luck in your search :)

Mike Glen
MS Project MVP


wrote:
 
M

mlaucus

Hardnip

I doubt this is in time to your question but I think a document you are
looking for is called a Requirements Tracebility Matrix. This allows your to
note your requirement and how you are going to follow it through the project.

A resource I have been using lately is a consultants website
(http://www.jiludwig.com/) There is some good information on requirements
management.

Good Luck

Mark Laucus
 
H

Hardip

Morning Mark

Thanks for the link. The templates on this site are very good. I think
I've realised that I need use a clearer approach.

1) Capture the high level requirements i.e. go broad and not too deep in the
workshops.
2) Provide stakeholders proposing the requirement a consistent means to
document the functionally / non-functionally elements.
3) Undertake a benchmarking exercise to prioritise the requirements and
assess the value proposition.

My project could potentially involve systems changes for which there is
already a clear organisation process. Adoption of new technologies such as
wireless and new types of end user devices for which there is less
requirements processes.

Where there is a departure from the norm i.e. ERP change process is already
in place so why reinvent the wheel, provide a basic template to users to for
items outside that a traditionally poorly documented.

Thanks again for the link - it is very useful

Hardip
 
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