Difference between revisions of "Secrets of understanding requirements"

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(Created page with "==Introduction== ==Word tricks== When requirements are hard to descern, you can get a better understanding by playing with words. Specifically, you need to be able to simply...")
 
(Word tricks)
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When requirements are hard to descern, you can get a better understanding by playing with words. Specifically, you need to be able to simply define each noun and each verb you use. But that's easier said than done.
 
When requirements are hard to descern, you can get a better understanding by playing with words. Specifically, you need to be able to simply define each noun and each verb you use. But that's easier said than done.
  
* Fred needs to be able to attach a file on an email
+
* Fred needs to include a picture or a song in an email
 +
 
 +
Pronouns: Fred
 +
Verbs: Needs, Include
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Nouns: Picture, Song, Email
 +
 
 +
We can see that Fred is a human, a user, perhaps a particular type of user. Let's refer to him a USER.
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Our first verb, "need", is actually rather special: It means MUST, rather than WANT, SHOULD, or COULD.

Revision as of 15:53, 22 April 2020

Introduction

Word tricks

When requirements are hard to descern, you can get a better understanding by playing with words. Specifically, you need to be able to simply define each noun and each verb you use. But that's easier said than done.

  • Fred needs to include a picture or a song in an email

Pronouns: Fred Verbs: Needs, Include Nouns: Picture, Song, Email

We can see that Fred is a human, a user, perhaps a particular type of user. Let's refer to him a USER.

Our first verb, "need", is actually rather special: It means MUST, rather than WANT, SHOULD, or COULD.