For an increased likelihood of success for any project it’s important to create a clear, concise and agreed set of customer requirements that allow us to provide exactly what our customer is looking for, by ensuring that we;
- Get a clear understanding of what the customer wants. Don’t assume – ask them.
- Avoid discussing the technology that should be used or trying to solve the problem before all of the requirements are fully understood.
- Consult with real users and involve them from the start.
- Define and agree on the scope of the project.
- Ensure requirements are specific, realistic and measurable.
- Prioritise user requirements into ‘must have’, ‘should have’, ‘could have’ and ‘would have,’ known as the MoSCoW principle.
- Confirm our understanding of the requirements with the customer by creating a clear, concise and thorough requirements document. Share it with them and make sure they read it and give us feedback.
- Get all stakeholders to agree on the requirements before the project starts.
- Create a prototype if necessary to confirm or refine the customers’ requirements.