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Requirements Lifecycle Management

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The Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK) is a guide developed by the
International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) that provides a comprehensive
framework for business analysis practices and techniques. BABOK includes a section
on Requirements Lifecycle Management, which is a critical aspect of business
analysis. Here are the key components and stages of Requirements Lifecycle
Management as outlined in BABOK:

Plan Requirements Lifecycle Management:

In this initial phase, business analysts work with stakeholders to plan how
requirements will be managed throughout the project. This includes defining roles
and responsibilities, selecting appropriate tools and techniques, and establishing
a requirements management plan.
Trace Requirements:

This involves creating and maintaining traceability relationships between

requirements and other project artifacts, such as business objectives, design
specifications, and test cases. Traceability helps ensure that requirements are
aligned with project goals and that changes are managed effectively.
Maintain Requirements:

Throughout the project, it's essential to keep requirements up to date. This

includes capturing changes, tracking their status, and ensuring that the
requirements remain relevant and accurate.
Prioritize Requirements:

Requirements often need to be prioritized to determine which ones will be

implemented first. Prioritization can be based on factors like business value,
criticality, dependencies, and constraints.
Assess Changes to Requirements:

When changes to requirements are proposed, they should be carefully assessed to

determine their impact on the project's scope, timeline, and budget. This involves
evaluating the necessity of the change and its potential consequences.
Approve Requirements:

Before requirements are implemented, they must be approved by relevant

stakeholders. This approval ensures that everyone agrees on what the project will
deliver.
Validate Requirements:

Once requirements are implemented, they need to be validated to ensure that they
meet the intended business need and that they work as expected. Validation may
involve testing, user acceptance, and feedback from stakeholders.
Verify Requirements:

Verification is the process of confirming that the implemented requirements align

with the approved requirements. It involves reviewing the deliverables to ensure
they meet the specified criteria.
Communicate Requirements:

Effective communication of requirements is crucial throughout the project. This

includes sharing requirements with stakeholders, addressing their concerns, and
keeping everyone informed about changes and updates.
Manage Requirements Changes:
As the project progresses, changes to requirements are inevitable. Requirements
Lifecycle Management involves a structured approach to managing these changes,
including documenting them, assessing their impact, and obtaining approval for
necessary adjustments.
Retire Requirements:

Some requirements may become obsolete or no longer relevant. These should be

formally retired from the project to avoid confusion and ensure that project
resources are focused on current needs.
Govern Requirements:

Governance involves establishing and enforcing policies, procedures, and standards

for managing requirements. It ensures consistency and compliance throughout the
project.
Effective Requirements Lifecycle Management is critical to the success of any
project, as it helps maintain alignment between project objectives and stakeholder
needs, reduces scope creep, and ensures that the project delivers value to the
organization. BABOK provides a structured framework for business analysts to follow
in managing requirements throughout the project's lifecycle.