Requirements Gathering

Gathering business requirements is key to delivering robust IT solutions to the business within the constraints of infrastructure and cost. The role of Business Analysts, or their equivalent, is vital to the process and the methods and tools that they use have a direct impact on success.

Gathering business requirements is key to delivering robust IT solutions to the business within the constraints of infrastructure and cost. The role of Business Analysts, or their equivalent, is vital to the process and the methods and tools that they use have a direct impact on success.
But what are best practices in eliciting clear, concise and accurate business requirements?
This Forum workshop was attended by 45 delegates from a wide cross-section of industries, including manufacturing, insurance, airlines, central government, banking retail, the environment, joinery and home improvement, petroleum, construction, transport, health, brewing, mapping, entertainment, publishing, utilities, recruitment, agriculture and automotive.
The agenda included the following:

• Initiating requirement gathering
• Setting objectives
• Team structures, including roles and responsibilities
• Constraints
• Eliciting requirements
• Workshop facilitation
• Interviewing techniques
• Stimulating discussion around positive process change
• BA training and certification
• Business case/benefit and sign off
• Measurement of success