Business requirements are the fundamental needs and expectations that a company has for a new product, system, or project. They are essential for the successful implementation of projects and serve as the basis for planning and development. This glossary entry explains the various aspects of business requirements, how they are defined, their role in projects, and how they are identified and documented.
Types of Business Requirements
Business requirements can be divided into various categories, including:
- Functional: These requirements relate to the functions and capabilities of a product, service, or system. Examples include performance, reliability, and user-friendliness.
- Non-functional: These requirements concern aspects such as security, scalability, interoperability, and maintainability, which are important for the success of a project but are not directly related to the functions of the product or system.
- Organizational: These requirements concern the way a company operates, including processes, structures, roles, and responsibilities.
- Regulatory: These requirements arise from laws, regulations, and standards that the company must comply with.
The Role of Business Requirements in Projects
Business requirements play an important role in projects, as they serve as the basis for planning and development. They help to define the project framework and determine the necessary resources, time, and costs. Business requirements also act as a guide for project stakeholders to ensure that the developed solution meets the needs of the company and creates added value.
Identification and Documentation of Business Requirements
The following steps are helpful in successfully identifying and documenting business requirements:
- Analysis of Business Goals: First, the business goals and strategies of the company should be analyzed to determine the basic needs and expectations that a new product, system, or project should fulfill.
- Identification of Stakeholders: Business requirements are often influenced by various stakeholders within and outside the company. Therefore, it is important to identify and involve all relevant stakeholders.
- Requirement Gathering: This step involves collecting information about the needs and expectations of stakeholders. Methods for requirement gathering can include interviews, questionnaires, workshops, and observations.
- Analysis and Prioritization of Requirements: After the requirements have been collected, they should be analyzed and prioritized to ensure that the most important needs of the company are considered.
- Documentation of Business Requirements: The identified requirements should be recorded in a Business Requirements Document (BRD) or a requirements specification. This document serves as a reference for project participants and assists in planning and developing the solution.
- Review and Validation of Requirements: The business requirements should be regularly reviewed and validated to ensure that they continue to meet the needs of the company and can be adjusted throughout the project.
Conclusion
Business requirements are a central component of projects and ensure that the developed solutions meet the actual needs of a company. To successfully identify and document business requirements, it is important to analyze business goals, identify stakeholders, gather and prioritize requirements, and record them in a BRD or requirements specification. By continuously reviewing and adjusting business requirements, companies can ensure that their projects are implemented successfully and provide added value.
