Defining the requirements and the desired outcome of a project controls the scope of that project and forms a contract between the client’s expectations and the supplier’s commitment. It is notoriously difficult to capture requirements clearly and without ambiguity and yet it can mean the difference between delivering a system that exceeds a client’s expectations on time and within budget, and not delivering anything of worth at all. This is the challenge that PA’s innovative approach can solve.
PA's Managing requirements end-to-end service captures both functional and non-functional requirements – these provide detailed information on all aspects of the system from hardware specification and system performance levels to visual design and usability.
PA’s managing requirements end-to-end service provides mechanisms to manage and trace the progress of each requirement from its source through to its delivery in a particular phase of a project. It ensures that the delivered system is in line with the client’s expectations and that change is carefully managed throughout the project lifecycle.
How PA manages requirements in the project lifecycle
Feasibility study
During the feasibility study, requirements are captured and defined through a process of workshops, meetings and documentation. PA’s consultants are skilled at facilitating user groups and acting as 'translator' between technical and business representatives. A 'statement of requirements' document is agreed with the client.
Design and development
Throughout design and development phases, requirements are analyzed and prioritized according to project constraints and the business need. Communication is a major part of this service and therefore all key stakeholders and the project team are kept informed of change as development progresses.
Testing
The system is tested for compliance to each requirement during testing and the 'statement of requirements' is continually kept updated to ensure an accurate audit trail is kept.
Delivery and maintenance
Managing requirements is not something that terminates at the end of a project; it needs to be continued as the system develops further in additional phases or changes to support the business. As a result, operational handover of the project’s approach to requirements is essential to ensure the smooth running of the system.
