User Requirements Specification

Topic & structure of the lesson

Finding out how to capture user
requirements and produce a user
requirements specification

interview
document review
observation
surveys and questionnaires
sampling
research

CT026-3-1 Systems Analysis and Design

User Requirements Specification

Slide 2 (of 19)

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this lecture, YOU should be
able to:
Identify and explain the phases of
requirement engineering
Describe fact-finding techniques
Explain the differences between
interview and questionnaires
observation and document analysis

CT026-3-1 Systems Analysis and Design

User Requirements Specification

Slide 3 (of 19)

Key terms you must be able to use

If you have mastered this topic, you
should be able to use the following terms
correctly in your assignments and exams:
Interview
Document review
Observation
Surveys and questionnaires
Sampling
Research
CT026-3-1 Systems Analysis and Design

User Requirements Specification

Slide 4 (of 19)

Introduction
Requirements Engineering
Has three phases:
requirements elicitation
requirements specification
requirements validation

CT026-3-1 Systems Analysis and Design

User Requirements Specification

Slide 5 (of 19)

Requirements Elicitation
The process of discovering the requirements for
a system by communication with customers,
system users and others who have a stake in
the system development
Elicit information on:
the organization
current problems
requirements of the new system
Essential skills required:
Communication skills: Oral, written, listening
CT026-3-1 Systems Analysis and Design

User Requirements Specification

Slide 5 (of 19)

Activities within requirements

elicitation stage

Interview
Document review
Observation
Surveys and questionnaires
Sampling
Research

CT026-3-1 Systems Analysis and Design

User Requirements Specification

Slide 5 (of 19)

Interview
planned meeting during which you can obtain
information from another person.
Skills are required to plan, conduct and document
interviews.
An information-gathering which is a directed
conversation with a specific-purpose that uses a
question and answer format.
Most important is seek the opinion of the person you are
interviewing as opinion are more important than facts
CT026-3-1 Systems Analysis and Design

User Requirements Specification

Slide 6 (of 19)

Interview
Interview steps :
Determine the people to interview
Establish objectives for the interview
Develop interview questions
Prepare for the interview
Conduct the interview
Document the interview
Evaluate the interview

CT026-3-1 Systems Analysis and Design

User Requirements Specification

Slide 9 (of

Interview
Unsuccessful interviews
Not all interviews are successful
Find a way to conclude an unsuccessful
meeting
Consider alternatives

CT026-3-1 Systems Analysis and Design

User Requirements Specification

Slide 10 (of

Document Review
Review existing system documentation
Obtain copies of actual forms and
documents
Review
blank copies of forms
samples of completed forms
software documentation

CT026-3-1 Systems Analysis and Design

User Requirements Specification

Slide 9 (of 19)

Observation
Ask questions about present system
operation
Observe all steps in the processing cycle
Examine each form, record and report
Consider each person working with the
system
Talk to people who receive current reports
Consider the Hawthorne Effect
CT026-3-1 Systems Analysis and Design

User Requirements Specification

Slide 10 (of 19)

Observation Hawthorne Effect

Figure 7-1 :Hawthorne Effect

Systems Analysis & Design (4th Edition) Shelly Cashman Series
CT026-3-1 Systems Analysis and Design

User Requirements Specification

Slide 11 (of 19)

Questionnaires and Surveys

A document containing number of standard
questions that can be sent to many individuals
Brief and user-friendly
Clear instructions and Questions in logical order
Simple wording to avoid misunderstanding
Avoid leading questions
Open-ended questions are difficult to tabulate
Limit questions raising concern / negative issues
Section for general comments
Test the questionnaires in advance
CT026-3-1 Systems Analysis and Design

User Requirements Specification

Slide 12 (of 19)

Sampling
process of collecting examples of actual
documents
There are several techniques of sampling: Systematic sample
Stratified sample
Random sample

Main objective : to ensure representation of the

overall population accurately
Should be considered for interviewing or
questionnaires
CT026-3-1 Systems Analysis and Design

User Requirements Specification

Slide 13 (of 19)

Research
Journals, periodicals, books
Internet sites
Hardware and software vendors
Independent firms that provide information
Newsgroups

Professional meetings, seminars,

discussions
Site visits to observe a system in use
CT026-3-1 Systems Analysis and Design

User Requirements Specification

Slide 14 (of 19)

Quick Review Question

Explain what one needs to do when
preparing for an interview

CT026-3-1 Systems Analysis and Design

User Requirements Specification

Slide 15 (of 19)

Requirements Specification

Sift through information to filter out

important and relevant issues
Information is analysed, interpreted and
recorded in appropriate form
Record in narrative English / diagram
Communication tool between developers,
users and stakeholders
Clear specification of required functionality

CT026-3-1 Systems Analysis and Design

User Requirements Specification

Requirements Validation
Process of verifying requirements as
intended by stakeholders
Checking if requirements specified are true
representation of clients needs and wishes

Checks on accuracy, consistency and

relevance of the proposed solution based
on problem

CT026-3-1 Systems Analysis and Design

User Requirements Specification

Slide 19 (of

Requirements Validation

check requirements specified through

feedback
written summary
compare answers
observe
prototyping
Fagan inspection

CT026-3-1 Systems Analysis and Design

User Requirements Specification

Follow Up Assignment
Group
Design one set of questions which could be
used when determining user requirements
during each of the following:
An interview
A survey

CT026-3-1 Systems Analysis and Design

User Requirements Specification

Slide 16 (of 19)

Summary of Main Teaching Points

Finding out how to capture user
requirements and produce a user
requirements specification

interview
document review
observation
surveys and questionnaires
sampling
research

CT026-3-1 Systems Analysis and Design

User Requirements Specification

Slide 17 (of 19)

Question and Answer Session

Q&A
CT026-3-1 Systems Analysis and Design

User Requirements Specification

Slide 18 (of 19)

Next Session
Overview of current methodologies and
their suitability for application domains
SSADM
Object-oriented

CT026-3-1 Systems Analysis and Design

User Requirements Specification

Slide 19 (of 19)