1. ASEE Software Engineering Process Improvement Workshop HOT TOPIC, 2001
James Bielak

2. The IT Industry Albatross…
Many projects are CANCELED before completion
Many are LATE
Many are OVER BUDGET
Many require RESTARTING
Products LACK DESIRED FEATURES
The Standish Group, CHAOS report, 1995
standishgroup.com/visitor/chaos.htm
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3. Source of the problem Lack of user input
Incomplete requirements & specifications
Changing requirements & specifications
Why don’t we “do” better requirements?
The Standish Group, CHAOS report, 1995
standishgroup.com/visitor/chaos.htm
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4. The size element of development teams
Fayad, CACM v43 n3 p115
64.9%
13.1%
8.9%
7.2%
3.1%
87% work for companies < 20
94% work for companies < 50
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5. Who “does” requirements?
Project managers
System architects
Software developers
“Programmer/Analysts”
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6. Conflict of interest! PMgr: “My team is already overworked!”
SArch: Inventing solutions instead of listening
SDev: “When can I get back to my programming?”
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7. Requirements Specialists: HOT TOPIC in 2001
Not just a part-time job
Understanding the customer
Writing things down
Organizing complexity
If you can’t support a fulltime analyst
borrow one!
outsource!
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8. We can do better! Thank you! James Bielak
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