Requirements Requirements

AnalysisAnalysisThe Startling TruthThe Startling Truth

Tony Heaptony.heap@its-all-design.com18/03/2014

IIBA North West &

East Event

About Me

0 Freelance “Business Analyst Designer”0 Based in Yorkshire0 Clients include

0 ASDA/Walmart, Morrisons, Arcadia, NHS, BT, RWE Npower, Answer Consunting (aka UPCO), BJSS, Barclaycard, Egg

0 In my spare time…0 www.its-all-design.com

Agenda

0 Today I will reveal the startling truth about requirements

0 Starting with a case study…

A User Story

0 As a…0 Shareholder in a national grocery retailer

0 What I want is…0 A better return on my investment

0 So that…0 I can afford to buy a 2nd generation Nexus 7

CEO

0 How can I deliver0 a better return on investments?

0 Options / components1.Charge customers more2.Pay suppliers less3.Open more supermarkets4.Expand into convenience stores5.Go online6.Do nothing [argue that return on investment is good

enough already]

CEO

0 Decision1. Expand into convenience stores

2. Go online

0 Next steps0 Hire Head of Convenience0 Hire Head of Online

Head of Online

0 How do I deliver0 Online grocery shopping?

0 Options / components1.Online platform (web)2.Online platform (mobile)3.Picking and packing capability4.Home delivery capability5.Click & collect capability6.Customer service capability7.Do nothing [argue that going online in the current climate is

a bad idea]

Head of Online

0 Decision0 Online platform (web)0 Picking and packing capability0 Home delivery capability0 Customer service capability

0 Next steps0 Engage IT department (Business Analyst)0 Hire Head of Fulfilment0 Hire Head of Customer Service

Business Analyst

0 How do I deliver0 Online platform (web)

0 Options / components1.Register2.Log in3.Browse products (not logged in)4.Browse products (logged in)5.Add product to trolley6.Add product to wish list7.…and so on8.Do nothing [argue that we should be doing mobile instead]

Business Analyst

0 Decision1. Register

2. Log in

3. Browse products (logged in)

4. Add product to trolley

5. …and so on

0 Next steps0 Do next level of detail

BA – Next Level of Detail

0 How do I deliver0 Register

0 Options / components1.Capture customer name2.Capture customer date of birth3.Capture customer password4.Password is at least 8 characters5.Password contains non-alpha characters6.Fingerprint authentication7.…and so on8.Do nothing [argue that customer doesn’t need to register to

use the platform]

BA – Next Level of Detail

0 Decision1. Capture customer name

2. Capture customer password

3. Password is at least 8 characters

0 Next steps0 Engage UX Designer

UX Designer

0 How do I deliver0 Password is at least 8 characters

0 Options / components1.Display error after user submits

2.Display warning before user submits

3.Disable submit button until user enters 8 chars

4.Do nothing [argue to drop the feature because the complexity outweighs the benefit]

UX Designer

0 Decision1. Display warning before user submits

2. Disable submit button until user enters 8 chars

0 Next steps0 Engage developer

Developer

0 How do I deliver0 Display warning before user submits

0 Options / components1.Update the DOM with the warning text

2.Have a hidden DIV and make it visible/invisible using CSS

3.[OK so my web dev skills are a bit rusty…]

4.Do nothing [argue that the dev effort outweighs the benefit]

Cascading Levels of Detail

Who What How

CEO Better return on investment Go online[and more]

Head of Online Go online Online platform (web)[and more]

Head of IT Online platform (web) [build it ourselves]

Business Analyst [build it ourselves] Register[and more]

Business Analyst Register Password > 8 chars[and more]

UX Designer Password > 8 characters Display warning before submit[and more]

Developer Display warning before submit [tecchy stuff!!!]

Business Process HierarchyBe a Grocery

Retailer

Sell Groceries in Supermarkets

Buy GroceriesSell Groceries in

Convenience Stores

Sell Groceries Online

Take Orders via Web

Deliver to HomesProvide Customer

Service

Register

Verify Password > 8 Chars

Display Warning

Log In Add Item to Cart

Observations

0 Everyone is making decisions0 Everyone is designing the business change0 People work at different levels of detail0 One man’s requirement is actually the previous

man’s design

The Startling Truth

0 There’s no such thing as a requirement0 Nothing is truly required0 It’s all optional0 It’s all part of a business change design

0 It’s all design

Business Needs

0 There’s no such thing as a business need0 Everything is optional

0 Moving into online shopping is a conscious business decision

0 It is not a “need”

Inferences

0 Every “requirement” can, and should, be challenged0 There are always options0 The “do nothing” option should always be

considered0 The “underlying business need” can, and should, be

challenged0 To save the business from a doomed project

Problems with Language

0 If we call them “requirements” they are set in stone0 If we distinguish between “requirements” and

“design” we end up arguing about which is which and who does what

0 Google “requirements versus design”

A New Language0 In

0 Design0 Business change design0 Business process design0 Functional design0 UX design0 Technical design

0 Options0 “Deciding what to build” (Cockburn)0 As-is and to-be0 Business objectives0 Ideas, proposals, suggestions (for business change)

0 Out0 Requirement0 Business need0 Problem (there are only opportunities)0 Solution (since there are no problems)

Take Aways

0 Change in mind set0 “I am a designer”

0 Change in language0 “I am deciding/designing what to build”

0 More details0 www.its-all-design.com0 tony.heap@its-all-design.com