2146Implementing
Requirements Management:
A Pattern For Success
Betty LuedkePrincipal Consultant
Borland Software Corporation
A Pattern Emerges...
Implementing Requirements Management (RM) Process with tool support (CaliberRM) in:
– 3 large federal government organizations– 1 large insurance company– 3 mid-sized vendors (software, firmware, hardware)– 1 mid-sized state government organization
The Pattern Is...
– Born out of a variety of implementations, some broader than RM
– Sensitive to the environment
– Reflective of what has worked and what has not worked
– Applicable to processes other than RM
– Key To Success
– The Pattern
– Factors
Implementing Requirements Management ...
Key To SuccessPROCESS/PEOPLE … Effective
TECHNOLOGY … Efficient
PROCESS
TECHNOLOGYPEOPLE
Effective Efficient
PROCESSWe need to understand:
– RM Process to be implemented• Well-defined, well-grounded RM process• Effectiveness of RM process impacts efficiency of RM
tool
– Steps needed to implement the RM Process• Participant selection (‘steering committee’, pilot,...)• Training/mentoring for a new/modified RM Process • RM tool setup• Existing requirement migration• ...
PEOPLEWe need to identify:
– System development roles• Must be supported by the RM tool (CaliberRM)
– Participants in the implementation• ‘Steering committee’• Pilot team• Remaining project teams
– Training/mentoring needed for:• ‘Steering committee’• Pilot team• Remaining project teams
TECHNOLOGYWe need to focus on:
– Functionality of the new RM tool to:• Leverage to reflect RM best practices• Define RM tool procedures• Support requirement authoring/consumer roles
– Functionality of the existing RM tool to:• Facilitate the migration of existing requirements
– Migration of existing requirements to determine:• Decisions about WHAT, WHERE, WHO, WHEN?
Migration Decisions– WHAT information will be migrated?
WHERE is the information located?WHAT is its integrity? WHAT refinement/reorganization will be needed?
– WHEN in the life cycle? WHAT effect if not at the beginning of the life cycle?
– WHO will move the information?
WHO will refine/reorganize information? – WHO will determine migration success?
WHO in the business will validate the new source of record?
– Key To Success
– The Pattern
– Factors
Implementing Requirements Management ...
The Pattern...
1. Select a ‘steering committee’2. Level set RM concepts and RM best practices3. Plan the RM Process/Tool Implementation 4. Prepare the environment5. Conduct a pilot effort6. Determine ‘next steps’
Select ‘Steering Committee’The ‘steering committee’ should:
– Be representative of requirement authors/ consumers
– Be global thinkers
– Want to collaborate on a better environment
– Be willing to embrace new ways of thinking
– Be enthusiastic about and willing to find a better way
Level Set
Work with the ‘steering committee’ to:
– Promote a consistent understanding of RM concepts/best practices
– Understand the organization’s current situation
– Understand/validate next steps for planning the RM Process/Tool Implementation
– Recognize who can be heard
Plan RM Process/Tool Implementation
Work with the ‘steering committee’ to:
– Articulate RM Process/Tool Implementation Success Criteria and Measurement
– Develop a RM Process/Tool Implementation Plan
Success Criteria
Area
This process/tool implementation will be deemed a success if…
This criterion has been met if…
Success Criteria
Area
This process/tool implementation will be deemed a success if…
This criterion has been met if…
Success Criteria
Area
This process/tool implementation will be deemed a success if…
This criterion has been met if…
Success Criteria Example
Area
This process/tool implementation will be deemed a success if…
This criterion has been met if…
Support For RM Process
There are tool procedures in place to support RM Process
RM Process is baselined A migration plan is
established Tool procedures are
documented Personnel have been
identified for training Training plan/schedule
exists and is executed
Success Criteria Example
Area
This process/tool implementation will be deemed a success if…
This criterion has been met if…
Traceability A trace strategy is established across system development phases to determine:
Impact of change Completeness Justification
There is a documented trace strategy across system development phases which addresses:
Impact of change Completeness Justification
Success Criteria Example
Area
This process/tool implementation will be deemed a success if…
This criterion has been met if…
Data migration
Information in identified legacy artifacts is migrated to the appropriate repository
Legacy artifacts/new repositories are identified
The identified legacy artifacts have been migrated into the appropriate repository:
Requirements Test cases
Success Criteria Example
Area
This process/tool implementation will be deemed a success if…
This criterion has been met if…
Data migration(continued)
A content reorganization/ maturation strategy is established to transition legacy information into the information needed by RM Process
Content reorganization/maturation strategy exists which embraces:
Requirements Test Cases Requests For Change
Defect Enhancement
Implementation Plan Worksheet
Perspective...Task...Responsibility for:
PROCESS– Existing Systems Development Processes– Strategies– Naming Conventions
PEOPLE– Role– Training– Pilot Project
TECHNOLOGY– CaliberRM
Implementation Plan - PROCESS
PROCESS Perspective Task Resp
Document steps in RM Process Identify Requirements Management Process artifacts to be supported by CaliberRM/ StarTeam
Requirements Management (RM) Process
Determine how RM Process artifacts will be supported by CaliberRM/StarTeam
Document steps in Change Control Process
Existing System Development Processes
Change Control Process
Identify Change Control Process artifacts to be supported by CaliberRM/StarTeam
Implementation Plan - PROCESS
PROCESS Perspective Task Resp
Determine requirements management strategies: Requirement Type Requirement Trace Requirement Baseline
Requirements Management
Determine CaliberRM configuration strategies for: Requirement Type, Tabs, UDAs Requirement Baseline “Project” Containers Groups (role based) Releases
Change Management
Develop a simple change management process
Strategies
Test Management
Determine test case organization
Implementation Plan - PEOPLE
PEOPLE Perspective Task Resp Identify/define system development roles
System Development Map system development roles to organizational
titles
Determine ‘steering’ committee
Delegate tasks to ‘steering’ committee
Role
Process/Tool Implementation
Identify tool administrators for: CaliberRM StarTeam …
Implementation Plan - PEOPLE
PEOPLE Perspective Task Resp Participants Identify non-steering committee training participants for:
Requirements Management best practices CaliberRM/CaliberRM Datamart Change Control best practices StarTeam
Conduct training for ‘steering committee’/pilot/...: Requirements Management best practices CaliberRM/CaliberRM Datamart Change Control best practices StarTeam
Training
Training Session
Conduct follow-up training/workshops in: Requirements Management best practices CaliberRM/CaliberRM Datamart Change Control best practices StarTeam
Implementation Plan - PEOPLE
PEOPLE Perspective Task Resp Selection
Criteria Develop/refine pilot selection criteria
Selection Evaluate/select project(s) for implementation effort
Pilot Project
Risk Mitigation
Determine an approach to mitigate each identified risk for selected pilot project
Implementation Plan - TECHNOLOGY
TECHNOLOGY Perspective Task Resp Install Install CaliberRM in a ‘sandbox’ and in production Backup Establish backup procedures Configuration Configure CaliberRM reflecting RM strategies Integrate CaliberRM with StarTeam
Integration Integrate CaliberRM with TestDirector
Identify CaliberRM license needs by role, project,... during pilot period
Obtain additional licenses if needed for pilot period Identify CaliberRM license needs by role, project,...
after pilot period
CaliberRM
Licenses
Obtain additional licenses if needed after pilot period
Prepare the Environment
– PROCESS
– PEOPLE
– TECHNOLOGY
Prepare the Environment
PROCESS
– Requirement strategies (requirement types, traces, baselines)
– RM process
– Change control process
– Requirement information structure
– Requirement document guidance
Prepare the Environment
PEOPLE
– System development roles
– RM techniques
– Requirement review guidance
PROCESS-PEOPLE
– RM task-role participation matrix
Prepare the Environment
TECHNOLOGY
– CaliberRM installation/configuration
– CaliberRM backup/disaster recovery procedures
– CaliberRM project ‘container’ export
– CaliberRM Document Factory templates
– Requirement migration approaches
Prepare the Environment
PROCESS-PEOPLE-TECHNOLOGY
– CaliberRM tool procedures for each RM process task/step
– CaliberRM project startup guidance
– RM process/tool mentors
Conduct Pilot EffortWork with the ‘steering committee’ to:
– Identify an appropriate pilot project and associated risks
– Have management talk with the pilot team regarding goals and expectations
– Train and mentor pilot team in RM concepts/process/tool
– Migrate existing requirements, if appropriate
– Monitor pilot team progress (early and often) making adjustments based on ‘lessons learned’
– Assess success of pilot effort using RM Process-Tool Success Criteria/Measurement
Pilot Selection Criteria
# Question ValuesIdeal
ProjectProject
ExampleProject
AProject
B
1 Has project manager/ requirements analyst had training in RM concepts/tool?
YesNo
Yes Yes
2 Has project team had training in RM concepts/tool?
YesSome
No
Yes Some
Pilot Selection Criteria
# Question ValuesIdeal
ProjectProject
ExampleProject
AProject
B
1 Has project manager/ requirements analyst had training in RM concepts/tool?
YesNo
Yes Yes
2 Has project team had training in RM concepts/tool?
YesSome
No
Yes Some
Pilot Selection Criteria
# Question ValuesIdeal
ProjectProject
ExampleProjec
t AProject
B
1 Has project manager/ requirements analyst had training in RM concepts/tool?
YesNo
Yes Yes
2 Has project team had training in RM concepts/tool?
YesSome
No
Yes Some
Pilot Selection Criteria
# Question ValuesIdeal
ProjectProject
ExampleProject
AProject
B
3 Is project manager/ requirements analyst well-grounded in RM concepts?
YesPartially
No
Yes
Partially
...
13 How complex is the team’s situation (location, skill level, leadership,...)?
HighMedium
Low
Medium High
Pilot Selection Criteria
# Question ValuesIdeal
ProjectProject
ExampleProject
AProject
B
3 Is project manager/ requirements analyst well-grounded in RM concepts?
YesPartially
No
Yes
Partially
...
13 How complex is the team’s situation (location, skill level, leadership,...)?
HighMedium
Low
Medium High
Pilot Selection CriteriaSample Pilot Selection Criteria:
– What is the project’s corporate visibility?
– Is the project high cost? ...on the critical path?
– How complex is the product development?
– Is the product being developed in phases?
– Is the project manager/requirements analyst available? ...credible?
– What is the attitude of the project team? ...expectations coming into the RM Process/Tool Implementation?
Determine ‘Next Steps’
Work with the ‘steering committee’ to:
– Determine where improvements are needed
– Determine a rollout strategy and plan
– Key To Success
– The Pattern
– Factors
Implementing Requirements Management ...
Factors– ‘Right’ steering committee
– ‘Right’ mindset
– ‘Right’ timing
– ‘Right’ pilot
– Organizational support
– The ‘measuring stick’
– The ‘secret’
‘Right’ Steering Committee
– Must embrace the implementation effort individually and collectively
• Attitude is important• Credibility is critical
– Be the ‘evangelists’ and ‘explorers’
‘Right’ Mindset
Requirements need to be – Discrete– Categorized– Predictably related
Changing a mindset...
‘Right’ MindsetDocument-centric vs. Requirement-centric
Document
List_________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________
Requirement
BUSINESS
USER
FUNCTIONAL
discretecategorizedrelated
discretecategorized
“blob”
‘Right’ Timing
– Provide incentives• PAIN• Direction
– Allow for... • The ‘learning curve’ to happen• Improvement based on ‘lessons learned’
– Sustain by persistence/patience• ‘Right’ message from the ‘right’ messenger• ‘Can do’/’make it happen’ attitude
‘Right’ Pilot
– Will be visible/representative enough to be credible
– Not be on the critical path
– Will be trained in RM concepts/process/tool
– Will be allowed time to learn and improve
– Will have enthusiastic participants
– Will be nurtured along the way
Organizational Support
– Provides management direction, funding, staffing,...
– Comes from savvy ‘troops’ and enlightened leaders
– Provides appropriate training/mentoring
– Embraces ‘champions’, ‘evangelists’ and ‘explorers’$ $ $
The ‘Measuring Stick’
Measuring success by using:
– RM Process/Tool Implementation Success Criteria and Measurement
– Capability Maturity Model (CMM)
Capability Maturity Model (CMM)Level 2 – REPEATABLE Key Practice Area – Requirements Management
– Goals• Requirements are controlled (baselines)• Plans/products are consistent with requirements
– Practices• Requirements are reviewed• Requirements are the basis for plans/products/ activities• Changes to requirements are reviewed prior to incorporation into the product
Capability Maturity Model (CMM)Level 3 – DEFINED Key Practice Area – Software Product Engineering
– Goals• Software engineering tasks are defined, integrated and consistently performed• Software work products are consistent
– Practices• ...• Software requirements are developed, maintained, documented and verified
according to the project’s defined software process• ...
Capability Maturity Model (CMM)Level 3 – DEFINED Key Practice Area – Software Product Engineering
– Sub-practices• Requirements are reviewed and approved• Effective techniques are used to derive requirements• Requirements are analyzed for feasibility, testability, completeness,...• Requirements and methods for verifying/validating requirements are
documented• Requirements are placed under configuration management• Changes to requirements are reviewed prior to incorporation into the product
The ‘Secret’
Know the RM process, the roles and techniques needed to perform each RM task, the requirement information structure needed to capture useful information, and how to configure/use a tool to support this endeavor.
It is PEOPLE, PROCESS and TECHNOLOGY working together that will make success happen!
Make Success Your Own By...– Recognizing importance of PROCESS-PEOPLE-
TECHNOLOGY– Knowing the pattern for success– Taking action by executing the pattern for success:
• With the ‘right’ steering committee, mindset, timing, pilot team
• Prepared with RM best practices/CaliberRM• Armed with organizational support, a ‘measuring stick’ and
the ‘secret’– Listening along the way and adjusting as appropriate– NEVER GIVING UP!
Implementing Requirements Management:
A Pattern For Success
Questions?
Thank You
2146Implementing Requirements Management:
A Pattern For Success
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