Requirements Elicitation

Two Types of Observation

Direct and ethnographic

Three types of Focus Groups

Exploratory, Comparative, Prioritizing

Focus Group Execution

Preparation- determine focus item and goal, choose the right participants, invite participates, appoint moderator and minute taker -Execution- deal with discussion that are tool calm or overheated -Follow up- protocol and potential other recordings are reviewed

Perspective-Based Reading Execution

Sequential reading of documents read by the leader, Top-down reading, elicited requirements documented in parallel to reading, advisable to record text passages that lead to the definition of a requirement.

Types of Prototyping

Throwaway, evolutionary, functionality (horizontal vs vertical), Paper prototypes, Mock-ups

Prioritizing Focus Group

aims to prioritize already elicited requirements and to identify missing requirements

Questionnaires Goal

define questions, document in format for open questions, define response options for closed questions, appoint a contact person that can answer stakeholder questions, test before using them

Perspective-Based Reading Process

define the goal, define perspectives, select the documents, alternatively select the documents defining the perspectives. Identify and invite the participants

Brainstorming Process

define the goal, determine participants, fix the date and room, provide visualizations, focus by means of the four facets

Preparation of Observation technique

define the observation goal, define desired results, determine persons and/or systems to be observed

Effort of Prototype

depends on type, paper requires low effort but software requires high effort

Comparative Focus Group

focus group session aims to elicit an intitial set of requirements based on a competitor's product or a previous version

standardized interview

has prepared questions and will not deviate from them

six popular requirement elicitation methods

interview workshop focus group observation questionnaire perspective-based reading

Brainstorming Execution

let the moderator explain the subject and clear goal; begin idea generation phase

Exploratory Focus Group

main goal is elicitation of new requirements

KJ Method

named after inventor, participants place sketches/ideas on a set of cards, then are grouped and presented by subject, participants select best ideas

Unstructured interview

no prepared question catalogue

Prototype Benefits

not suitable for identifying additional requirements, suitable for eliciting existing requirements, support the development of new and innovative requirements

Ethnographic observation

observer spends a long period of time with stakeholders to actively participate in their work

Direct Observation

observer watches the stakeholder

Execution of an interview

opening- explain the goal work element- ask questions, create simple models, scenarios finalization- sum up, provide positive feedback, and thank participants

Workshop Execution

opening- present goals, explain techniques, define explicit conversation rules work element- moderator should check the adherence to agenda, rules, and results and decisions documented -finalization- collect open issues, self-reflection, thank participants

exploratory interview

prepared questions buy may deviate from them

Goal of Requirement Elicitation

progress along the content dimension

Rues for brainstorming

quantity over quality free association and visionary thinking are explicitly desired, combine expressed ideas, do not criticize, clarification of ideas, do not abort at first deadlock, let it come naturally

Requirement Elicitiation

refers to goals, scenarios, functional and quality requirements and constraints

Key factors of Workshops

select and invite participants from all facets, agreeing on the goal, location, appoint a moderator and minute-taker, effort is high

Kinds of interview

standardized exploratory unstructured

Observation Documentation Formats

text- disadvantage; distracted when writing video- recording is often perceived as unpleasant, analysis is time consuming Audio- alternative or supplement to the other formats.

Benefit for Focus Groups

the primary objective of a focus group is to develop new and innovative requirements (lower effort than WS)

Effort of Brainstorming

very low- no substantial activities for preparation or follow-up of a brainstorming session

Benefits for Questionnaires

well suited for identifying relevant requirement sources, well suited for eliciting existing requirements, very limited suitability for developing new and innovative requirements

Three ways to elicit existing requirements

- information from stakeholders -requirements from documents -requirements from existing systems

Process of Elicitation

-define goal and purpose of the system at an abstract level -define scenarios to put requirements in context - iterative goal and scenario definition -new and innovative requirements can be derived from new scenarios

Prototype Exectution

-execute usage scenarios, free usage to stakeholders, and document reactions, consider non-verbal cues, follow-up with documented results

Three sub-activities of RE

-identify relevant requirement sources -elicit existing requirements -develop new and innovative requirements

Execution of KJ Method

-introduction to explain goal, card writing, presentation and exploration, group the cards by subject into columns, doubled or similar cards are not discarded, find headings for columns

Questionnaires Execution

-provide a short write-up on aimes, define time frame, contact person available, remind persons before due date, thank participants

Observation of people Guidelines

-seek confidence of stakeholders -capture details -be objective -document immediately -check authenticity of activities -support the observation by inquiries

Brainstorming critical success factors

-strictly adhere to the brainstorming rules, -size of the group is essential (~5-10); -succinct description of ideas

Assistant Techniques

Brainstorming, Prototyping, KJ Method