There are a number of
Requirement Management software tools available in the market. As a Consultant
or Business Analyst, naturally it is important to use the software to elicit,
gather and manage requirements for successful delivery - but how do you go
beyond the deliverable and generate repeat business?
The first stage is
making sure you have the right software for what you, and your client, needs.
Evaluation criteria can be seen as moving goal posts, but as a general rule of
thumb, product features should be benchmarked in the following areas:
1.
User-friendliness
2.
Integrated facilities
(how does it work with other software and programs? Is there scope for
customisation?
3.
Functionality
4.
Scalability
5.
Maturity and adoption
within the wider industry
6.
Support
Once you've found the
perfect-fit tool - here's three ways to can use the software to your advantage
and generate future revenue streams:
1. Impress them with
your time and cost management skill
Since requirements are the basis on which potential solutions are assessed, and the potential solution and the process that leads to its success is what you are measured on (and potentially rehired for), it's critical to do it well.
Since requirements are the basis on which potential solutions are assessed, and the potential solution and the process that leads to its success is what you are measured on (and potentially rehired for), it's critical to do it well.
Online, cloud-based
requirement management tools can generally offer a customisable, flexible and
cost-effective way to get the right supporting infrastructure in place. With
many in-built features, scalable apps and custom development opportunities,
project plans can be setup, bugs and issues can be tracked, overspend can be
reduced and requirements management can be done with ease.
From a time and cost
perspective, a solid software product will enable non-duplication of work and
effort too. Since requirement management software holds a single copy of your
requirements up in the cloud and allows the whole team to work on the same
version. This then feeds into shared and allocated responsibilities and creates
an effective output of change management and traceability.
On the same thread,
requirement management software really gets to grips with the requirement
verification process early on in the project life-cycle so as to avoid costly
rework further down the line.
2. Get closer to the
client
For a client to feel actively involved and contributing to the project, communication, reporting, feedback and progress updates are essential.
For a client to feel actively involved and contributing to the project, communication, reporting, feedback and progress updates are essential.
Requirements come in
thick and fast from a potentially huge pot of stakeholders. Externally, they
will come in the shape of customers and partners. Internally, they may take the
form of sales and support teams. The challenge of managing the ideas, wants and
needs of these groups is much less overwhelming and manageable when the
software you have in place streamlines it all.
Engagement with the
project team and stakeholders can be much more accurate, and an automated
process with the use of good software. Greater levels of insight are available
and Consultants and Business Analysts have fast and accurate visibility of
progress against key performance indicators.
Within the requirements
matrix, feedback and results of validation and verification processes trace
back through risk and control matrix to the originating requirements. Keeping
the client involved in the progress of the project
All of this positions you
well to deliver consistent and relevant reviews to the senior client team.
3. Bend over backwards
Figuratively speaking of course. The client wants and needs to see its requests are being managed and delivered, and that every part of the requirement management process has their interests at heart. This means that you, and your requirement management software, needs to do everything they want it to.
Figuratively speaking of course. The client wants and needs to see its requests are being managed and delivered, and that every part of the requirement management process has their interests at heart. This means that you, and your requirement management software, needs to do everything they want it to.
Scalable software with
integration functionality allows you to mould an approach to that of the
client. Some tools permit project teams to use any methodology (such as Agile,
waterfall, hybrid, Prince2, PMBok) - so you can quickly adapt and fit in with
the systems used by the client team for happy faces all round. It also means
that you and your clients don't have to change systems each time a new project
or development is initiated.
________
Requirements are the
building blocks of any project, so it's fascinating to learn that around 80% of
projects fail as a result of inaccurate or incomplete requirements - or poor
management of accurate ones. Approaching a project with the right requirement
management software can potentially avoid failure, and could transpire into
repeat business as well as a new addition to your portfolio of successful
projects.
For more information,
visit RequirementOne at http://www.requirementone.com -
providers of online requirement management software
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beth_Nicholas
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8119284
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