Mastering the Requirements Process

"Suzanne and James Robertson have been Requirements Masters for many years. The fourth edition of their classic text brings an increased focus on business events, how events relate to stories, and prototyping. There's even a chapter on how AI could aid in requirements discovery. The conversational writing style makes the content easily accessible."
--Karl Wiegers, PhD, co-author of Software Requirements and Software Requirements Essentials

"I was delighted to get my hands on this edition of Mastering the Requirements Process. MRP, as it is affectionately known, has been the reference guide for many business requirements projects for near-on 20 years. But requirements processes are changing. Generative AI and more focus on creative thinking to innovate are becoming mainstream. This new edition integrates them all into MRP's comprehensive and easy-to-understand process guidance. A must for forward-thinking businesses."
--Prof. Neil Maiden, Bayes Business School, City, University of London

"The fourth edition of Mastering the Requirements Process is completely rewritten. It brings new insights into methods for requirements work in agile software development and how to work with AI. Instructive and relevant examples deepen the understanding of the complex subject, as well as making the book entertaining to read."
--Aase Tveito, Senior Advisor, IT Department, The Arctic University of Norway

"I love the emphasis on prototyping and 'fit criteria' in this new edition. There's so much practical common sense here. Whatever role you have on your project, if you want it to succeed, I suggest you read this book."
--Nick de Voil, De Voil Consulting

"This book is a hidden gem, not just for systems work, but for anyone dealing with people, especially knowledge workers. James and Suzanne show how to better figure out what is needed and how to better express that so people can understand, collaborate, and implement successfully."
--Mike Russell, C-level executive and consultant

"Suzanne and James Robertson have done it again! Their magisterial work on requirements has been renewed and refreshed for the world we live in now, to suit the wide range of approaches used. I particularly enjoyed the section on prototyping, covering a huge range from sketches to putting an analyst in a cardboard box! Throughout the book, you'll hear their hard-won experience guiding you on the best way to understand and deliver precisely what customers need. Bravo!"
--Dr. Penny Pullan, author of Business Analysis and Leadership, Virtual Leadership, and Making Workshops Work

"In this latest edition of Mastering the Requirements Process, James and Suzanne have taken the solid foundations of all their work on what constitutes good requirements and made it completely relevant and useful for today's organisations. The ecosystem of requirements elicitation, identification, communication, and implementation is evolving, and our requirements approaches have to adapt along with this evolution. James and Suzanne show how to do this in a way that is accessible, interesting, and practical for anyone involved in working with requirements for sociotechnical systems, irrespective of the development methodology or approach being used. Filled with examples and stories from their deep experience, Mastering the Requirements Process, Fourth Edition, warrants a place on the bookshelf (or ebook catalog) of anyone serious about producing good technology systems."
--Shane Hastie, Global Delivery Lead, Softed, part of Skills Development Group

"Requirements are the essential building blocks for developing successful products and services. However, defining well-formed and relevant requirements requires knowledge and skill that is founded on clear, up-to-date advice and guidance. This book provides such guidance, emphasising the importance of understanding the business context, identifying the actual problem to be solved, and avoiding the too-early leap to solutions, while also explaining that requirements are not waiting to be 'gathered' but require the skilful application of professional techniques. Written in their unique, engaging style, James and Suzanne Robertson’s new edition of Mastering the Requirements Process is both informative and comprehensive and is an essential reference guide for all requirements definition practitioners."
--Dr. Debra Paul, CEO, AssistKD

"As an inveterate modeler and signatory to the Agile Manifesto, I need a book that will tell me how to gather and test requirements in a manner that fits in with the particular development process that I am using on this project. This book does exactly that."
--Stephen Mellor, independent consultant

"Mastering the Requirements Process is an essential resource for business analysis and business architecture. For over 10 years, I have extensively used this methodology to develop bespoke requirements engineering and business architecture methodologies in both the not-for-profit and investment banking sectors. The Volere Methodology provides a solid theoretical foundation, enabling practitioners to adopt a systems thinking approach to accurately identify and define business problems before developing appropriate solutions. Its emphasis on Business Use Cases allows for a precise identification of problem scope and underlying business processes. In my current role, Volere's holistic approach has indirectly led to the development of a comprehensive Business Process Architecture, which has become a crucial strategic asset. The methodology's focus on thorough analysis and clarity has consistently enabled us to design effective, transformative solutions. Volere is an invaluable guide for any professional looking to enhance their requirements process and drive meaningful change within their organization. I have eagerly anticipated the fourth edition and look forward to applying its new guidance in practice."
--Sukhdev Kandhola, Director of Business Analysis and Business Architecture

"This book is the bible for product managers and business analysts alike. I've seen many projects fail or incur delays and extra costs due to missing requirements. This book teaches the most important skill: solving the right problem and delivering value to the business. The grail of product management."
--Julien Andrieu, Product Manager

"In 1999, I attended James Robertson's workshop on Mastering the Requirements Process in Austin, TX, unaware of the profound impact it would have on my career in the tech industry. The workshop included the comprehensive book of the same title, which I read from cover to cover, eager to apply its insights to my role at IBM. I was involved in software development projects, where overhauling the development process wasn't workable, but I could adapt elements of Volere to improve outcomes. This approach proved instrumental in two pivotal projects. The first project involved integrating our Japanese and U.S. hardware manufacturing ERP systems. This required clearly defined and testable requirements to ensure success. The stakes were high, but applying lessons learned from the workshop led to a remarkable 72% reduction in project duration and an 87% decrease in IT expenses, all while avoiding any critical failures. Our second major project was an extensive ERP upgrade that was crucial to IBM. Failure would jeopardize 14% of our most profitable revenue stream. Again, getting clearly defined and testable requirements was critical. We integrated elements of Volere into the project. As a result, we could have unit and regression testing focusing on testing instead of discovering missed requirements and/or incorrect requirements. By getting our requirements correct and complete right up front, we avoided downstream discovery. This resulted in the project being delivered on time and 63% under budget, with a successful delivery free of critical failures. These experiences underscored the value of mastering requirements gathering and analysis, lessons I've carried with me into retirement. My bookshelf still houses the first edition of Mastering the Requirements Process, alongside the third edition, while the second edition found a new home with a colleague seeking to enhance his skills in the field. As I reflect on these achievements, I await the fourth edition with anticipation, a testament to the enduring relevance of the principles I first encountered in 1999."
--John H. Capron, Former Technical Team Leader and Development Manager, IBM