How to Gather and Document User Requirements
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  • Define the role of the business analyst in the requirements process
  • Effectively document a solution's vision and scope
  • Develop a Requirements Analysis Work Plan
  • Elicit, structure, analyze, validate and document business requirements
  • Structure a Business Requirements Document
Course Credits
Course Prerequisites
Prior to taking this course, participants should take Introduction to Business Analysis or have practical professional experience in all of the topics covered in the course, including system development life cycle, project management methodologies, user requirements analysis and requirements management.
Ace Recommendations
Undergraduate 2 credit hours
Course PDUs
28.0
Course CEUs
2.8

** Important: Credits may vary by delivery method.

Incomplete requirements are often cited as the number-one reason projects or systems fail. Accurately identifying the requirements and staying on course from the beginning is key to success in today’s business world.

This “how-to” course introduces the roles of the business analyst as they relate to the analysis and documentation of requirements. It familiarizes participants with the core knowledge and skills required to identify and document user requirements. It also addresses how these requirements are managed throughout the life cycle.

Recommendation: The material presented in this course provides the foundation necessary for building additional business analysis skills. If you plan to take additional courses in the Business Analysis Professional Development Program, you will need this foundation.

  • Roles, Definitions and Key Principles
    • Critical role of business analyst
    • Creating and adopting a formal documentation strategy
    • Key requirements documents
    • Roles and mutual expectations among team members
  • Types of Requirements
    • Attributed and types of effective requirements
    • What is an effective requirement?
  • Vision, Scope and Quality
    • Defining problem, vision, and scope
    • Importance of a solution’s scope statement
    • Documenting project vision and scope
    • Including quality measures
    • Managing change
  • Introduction to Modeling
    • Documenting and tracking business rules
    • Why use models?
    • Modeling techniques
  • Creating a Requirements Work Plan
    • The value of planning
    • Elements of a requirements work plan
    • Planning the analysis
    • Identifying business analysis tasks
    • Stakeholder identification and prioritization
    • User identification and profiling
    • Managing risk
  • Elicitation Techniques
    • Dealing with barrier to elicitation
    • Elicitation strategy
    • Elicitation techniques
    • Advantages and challenges of elicitation techniques
  • Documenting Requirements
    • The purpose of documenting requirements
    • Elements of a Business Requirements Document
    • Technical writing guidelines
    • Requirements analysis
    • The role of modeling in requirements documentation
    • Use case and activity diagrams
    • Presenting requirements
  • Managing Consensus
    • Communicating effectively
    • Effective consensus building
  • Validating Requirements
    • Validation techniques
    • Decision making and approvals
    • Managing change and risk post-validation
    • What happens next?


"This was my first class here at ESI and I was extremely impressed with this training. I've learned a tremendous amount of information pertaining to my profession."

Tasha DeRienso
Seminole Tribe of Florida


"I totally enjoyed the class. I will definitely encourage members in my organization to attend ESI classes."

Violet Wise, Manager, Business Systems & Analyst
Universal Weather and Aviation


"I was able to take away many new ideas that will help me in my job. The instructor kept the class flowing with great examples in real-world situations. He encouraged conversations from all students and made us feel comfortable asking questions."

MaryBeth Makaruk, Business Analyst
Zions Bank Corporation

"It's a great course for new or experienced BA to go over the fundamental concepts required for a BA profile"

Nataraj Venugopal, Business Analyst
Tavant Technologies

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