• Sufficient, accurate, & verifiable

• A unique systematic method – compiled from the experts in systems analysis & design, and supporting industry standards from CMM, ISO and IEEE.

• A unique balance between rigorousness and simplicity. All within a framework defined by ISO, CMM, and IEEE.

Correct § Ranked § Unambiguous § Verifiable § Complete § Maintainable § Consistent § Traceable 

A hands-on course for new or experienced system analysts, business analysts, project managers, technical writers, and implementers of business systems.

The course is a mix of presentation, demonstration, and hands-on exercises using template software. It is full of practical tips, checklists, principles and techniques to help capture, write and review requirements specifications.

This session covers everything you need to producing quality specifications built on the principles and concepts of Best Business Requirements Practices™ for Specifying Client Requirements and recommended practices and documentation templates from IEEE.

• Use systematic techniques for specifying requirements – like use-case scenarios, process modeling, data modeling, object modeling and many others.
• Apply the seven factors to successful documenting -- listening, capturing, writing, clarifying, organizing, suggesting & teamwork.
• Listen and document the requirements -- capturing what was said, not what you heard!
• Apply practical, proven analysis and design best practices—built on the framework and standards from IEEE, ISO and SEI’s Capability Maturity Model (CMM).
• Synthesize the discussion into complete, clear & concise requirements -- compiling the discussions in their proper context and enabling critical client "buy-in".
• Prepare for the client meeting -- to save yourself time and frustration.
• Be productive during the user session. Knowing what to do and when! We’ll show you how to save mega-time. Knowing when to do something is sometimes as important as what to do.
• Use documentation template software -- "tricks of the trade" to make your job easier still.
• Document using the five "C’s" to writing quality specifications -- clear, concise, concrete, complete, consistent.
• Validate, package and present the deliverable -- the measure of any successful session is the quality of the deliverable left with the client. We’ll share these tips with you.
• Deal with the unexpected -- focusing on how to adapt what you have learned to anticipate the unexpected.

• When people hear the term "scribe", most immediately think about an administrative assistant who acts basically in the capacity of a "court reporter". This is definitely NOT the strategy that will yield quality specs.
• The role of a Documentation Practitioner using Best Business Requirements Practices™ is characterized by the ability to capture the right requirements completely, accurately and in its proper context. All this must be done in real-time without interrupting the dynamics of the user meeting, or Requirements Discovery Session.
• This course is a knowledge & skills transfer from a Senior Consultant with years of analysis, documentation and facilitation experience.
• You will spend the majority of your time practicing the techniques outlined above.
• In addition to the skills obtained in this 2-day session, you will receive an invaluable Documentation Practitioners’ Guide. This handbook contains tips, checklists, principles and techniques to help you capture, write and review requirements specifications.

The Role of a Documentation Practitioner § The Key Objectives of Requirements Documentation § The Ten Fastest Ways to Failure

Installing the Template § Creating a new Document § Word Conventions § Deciding on the Format and content of the Specification § Using the Custom Toolbar § Entering Company and Project Information § Documenting Activities § Documenting Operations