Business Analysis For Dummies, 2nd Edition

Chapter 5

Understanding What Requirements Truly Entail

IN THIS CHAPTER

Distinguishing between requirements and needs

Crafting excellent requirements

Getting to the heart of the four core components of requirements

The difference between a requirement and a need is at the heart of a business analysis project, but it can be a little tricky to understand. This chapter explains this difference and then explores how you can create excellent requirements.

Defining Needs

A need is an unsatisfied goal or objective. The concept seems simple enough, but needs can be rather hazy and subjective things that are difficult to identify or define. That’s because what people say they need is often not what they really need; it’s typically a solution they’ve identified to serve their need.

For instance, maybe someone says, “I need clothes.” Perhaps they do. But why? Besides the fact that they may want new clothes, what’s the reason they need them? If you as a business analyst (BA) were to ask them different questions in different ways, you could find out information that would help uncover the real need (without any covering, they’d be cold and naked; clothes help keep them warm and comfortable). ...