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Workflow Detail: Define the System
The purpose of this workflow detail is to begin converging on the scope of the high-level requirements by outlining the breadth of the detailed requirements for the system.
Topics - Description - Related Information - Timing - Optionality - How to Staff - Work Guidelines

Description

The workflow detail addresses:

  • Aligning the project team in their understanding of the system.
  • Performing a high-level analysis on the results of collected stakeholder requests.
  • Refining the Vision to capture the key features that characterize the system.
  • Refining the use-case model to include outlined use cases.
  • Beginning to capture the results of the requirements elicitation activities in a more structured manner.

The activities that focus on problem analysis and understanding stakeholder needs create early iterations of key system definitions including the features defined in the Vision and a first outline of the detailed requirements. In defining the system you will focus on identifying actors and use cases more completely, and expand the global non-functional requirements as defined in the supplementary specifications. (See also: Guidelines: Going from Business Models to Systems, business use-case model).

Typically, this is primarily performed in iterations during the Inception and Elaboration phases, however it may be revisited as needed when managing scope and responding to changing requirements, as well as other changes in the project conditions.

This section provides links to additional information related to this workflow detail.

Timing

This work normally begins part-way into each iteration.

Optionality

Should be performed in each iteration where the requirements will be defined.

How to Staff

While it encourages team ownership and commitment to have all members of the project team participate in defining the system, this work is primarily coordinated and conducted by staff playing the System Analyst role. Because this work often requires making tradeoff’s between multiple requirements to make best use of the finite development resources, diplomacy, negotiation and mediation are important skills for the system analyst conducting this work.

Work Guidelines

See the Related Information section for additional guidance that will help you in performing this work.