1/20/2019
Requirements Gathering Techniques
Quick Links
Resources
Selection process summary
Selection steps - how to select
a new system
Stakeholder analysis form
Stakeholder management tips
Sample project plan
RACI Matrix
Project initiation checklist
How not to select software
Critical success factors - for
selecting a new system
Software selection time saving
tips
Project issue log
Requirements gathering
techniques
Reasons to write a good
requirements specification
System design review
Simple risk assessment form
Risk assessment worksheet -
system selection
Software prototyping
Project reporting form
https://www.axia-consulting.co.uk/html/requirements_gathering.html
Software systems requirements gathering techniques
12 techniques for specifying the requirements for packaged systems
How many techniques have you tried or regularly use to gather your system requirements? We list and evaluate the
advantages and disadvantages of 12 techniques below. The list includes our own requirements gathering tool
(RFI/RFP Templates - item 4), which may be combined with all the other techniques, or used entirely on its own.
1. One-to-one interviews / meetings
Interviews and meetings are widely used for requirements gathering. One-to-one interviews require some planning
and preparation before the interview and documentation of findings afterwards. Asking different types of questions
eg open-ended, follow-on, or probing, can help to elucidate user / stakeholder system requirements.
Advantages: Can obtain good information, with users / stakeholders not feeling inhibited about what they need or
their lack of knowledge in certain areas. Some users are more likely to speak in one-to-one meetings, than in large
open forums.
Disadvantages: Can be very slow to obtain requirements, both individually and if having to interview a number of
users / stakeholders.
2. Group interviews / meetings
More users / stakeholders are present, but otherwise similar to 1 above. Group interviews can be more productive if
interviewees are at a similar level or from the same section within a department.
Advantages: Can obtain more information / requirements faster than with one-to-one interviews.
Disadvantages: Requires more preparation before the interview. More difficult to keep the meeting focused.
1/5
1/20/2019 Software systems requirements gathering techniques
Project status report template
Software selection warning
signs 3. Workshops

Workshops can comprise 6-10 or more users / stakeholders, working together to identify requirements. Workshops
tend to be of a defined duration, rather than outcome and may need to be briefly repeated in order to clarify or
obtain further details.
Quickly and easily gather
your system
Advantages: Faster than group interviews for obtaining requirements, particularly for common or system wide
requirements and
requirements.
prepare your RFI & RFP.
Disadvantages: More preparation is needed. Running or facilitating workshops requires more skill, with possibly an
Learn more about extra IT person recording details / requirements. It can be difficult to get conversation / requirements flowing,
RFI/RFP Templates for: particularly at the start of the workshop.

Accounting
BI 4. Requirements gathering tools eg Axia’s RFI/RFP Templates
BPM
CRM Comprising large lists of potential requirements from which users / stakeholders can select their requirements. The
HR Axia RFI/RFP Templates are split into modules and sections to enable users to focus only on those requirements
Payroll applicable to them. And as they are in MS Excel, they are easy to add to, delete or amend.
HR+Payroll
Advantages: A very fast technique to identify and document requirements. Can be used on their own or combined
with other techniques. A multi-purpose tool, which includes RFI and RFP preparation and vendor response
evaluation.

Disadvantages: Some users may find the extensive lists too detailed or be tempted to identify more requirements
than they really need.

5. Brainstorming

Brainstorming can be done either individually or in groups. The ideas collected can then be reviewed / analysed and
where relevant included within the system requirements. Ideas can come from what users / stakeholders have seen
(eg at software exhibitions), or experienced elsewhere (eg before they joined the present organisation).

Advantages: Can come up with very innovative ideas and requirements. It can be an efficient way for users /
stakeholders to define their requirements.

Disadvantages: People can’t easily brainstorm ideas when required to do so. Some people find brainstorming much
harder than others.

6. Feasibility study

Feasibility studies or other recent studies of the existing systems and the possibility of replacing them can provide
outline requirements details.

Advantages: Recent, documented, so could easily transfer relevant details to the requirements specification.
https://www.axia-consulting.co.uk/html/requirements_gathering.html 2/5
1/20/2019 Software systems requirements gathering techniques

Disadvantages: Probably not too detailed, and so may be insufficient for ‘detailed’ user requirements.

7. Current system documentation

You may have documentation about your current system which could provide some of the input for the new system
requirements. Such documentation (if it exists) could include interface details, user manuals, and software vendor
manuals.

Advantages: Could be a lot of information and easy to transfer to a new system requirements document.

Disadvantages: Existing documentation may often be old and out of date. Systems, interfaces, processes and
reports may have changed out of all recognition. Care needs to taken, as it may not reflect what you need from a
new system.

8. Questionnaires

Questionnaires can be useful for obtaining limited system requirements details from users / stakeholders, who have
a minor input or are geographically remote. The design of the questionnaire (whether off line or web based) and
types of questions are important and can influence the answers, so care is needed.

Advantages: Can send to many hundreds of users at a low cost. Good for getting input from users who are a long
distance away. Receive written replies which can be easier to work with and analyse, and save time typing.

Disadvantages: Questionnaires can be slow to create. You may not get a good response, as filling in questionnaires
is often a low priority for many people. Recipients may feel ‘left out’ when they really wanted more input

9. Use cases

Use cases comprise ‘stories’ which describe how certain processes work eg who can do what within the process.
They describe the system from the user point of view. The systems requirements are gathered by working through a
number of processes / use cases.

Advantages: It can be easier for some users to describe what they do and the processes they go through, than
specifying requirements.

Disadvantages: Processes and stories still need to be analysed and documented into requirements. Time is taken
to go through processes. If the focus is on existing processes, the information may not be so relevant, as processes
often change with a new system implementation.

10. Observation / shadowing people

Observing, shadowing users or even doing part of their job, can provide information of existing processes, inputs
and outputs.

https://www.axia-consulting.co.uk/html/requirements_gathering.html 3/5
1/20/2019 Software systems requirements gathering techniques

Advantages: Useful if the user is not able to clearly explain what they do or their requirements for the new system.
Can see ideas for improving processes or removing unnecessary activities from the new system.

Disadvantages: Relatively slow, focused on existing processes rather than the new system processes.

11. Prototyping

Prototyping comprises collecting requirements and using them to build a prototype. It enables users to see a
potential solution and get a better feel for what they require. Users then add or amend their requirements, with the
prototype being reworked on an iterative basis, until requirements are firmed up.

Advantages: Good for exploring how a particular software function requirement could work or a unique / bespoke
software development. It can identify problems with requirements and can improve the quality of requirements and
hence the ultimate solution. More relevant for the final detailed software selection, when comparing 1 or 2 packaged
solutions from software vendors.

Disadvantages: It is less useful for the initial requirements identification for a packaged software system. At the
initial stage of identifying requirements, there may be up to 10 or 20 potential software systems in the running and it
is not practical to prototype this many. Prototyping is not really suitable for large applications. Plus it can be an
expensive technique for identifying requirements.

12. JRD (Joint Requirements Development)

Similar to workshops except users / stakeholders stay until the requirements are identified, documented and
agreed.

Advantages: Potentially useful when requirements have largely been documented and just need resolution of
specific areas and then agreement.

Disadvantages: Not so useful at the beginning of requirements gathering when users don’t really know all their
requirements and may need additional workshops / meetings.

Conclusion

Each of the above techniques has some merit on their own. However, it is likely that you will need to use multiple
techniques to obtain a complete picture of requirements. And to enhance your requirements gathering, use a tool
(such as the Axia RFI/RFP Template) combined with the other techniques.

For more system selection information visit: Selection steps / Stakeholder analysis form / Stakeholder management
tips / Sample project plan / RACI Matrix / Project initiation checklist / How not to select software / Critical success
factors / Software selection time saving tips / Project issue log / Reasons to write a good requirements specification

https://www.axia-consulting.co.uk/html/requirements_gathering.html 4/5
1/20/2019 Software systems requirements gathering techniques
/ System design review / Simple risk assessment form / Risk assessment worksheet / Software prototyping / Project
reporting form / Project Status Report Template / Software selection warning signs

Home | Privacy Policy | Site Map

17 New Road Avenue, Chatham, Kent ME4 6BA, United Kingdom info@axia-consulting.co.uk
Copyright © 2018 Axia Consulting Ltd. All rights reserved.

https://www.axia-consulting.co.uk/html/requirements_gathering.html 5/5