TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: how long Requirements From:"Anthony Markatos" <tonymar -at- hotmail -dot- com> To:Charter -dot- Tara -at- mayo -dot- edu, techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com Date:Sat, 08 Apr 2000 12:26:53 PDT
Tony Markatos responds to Tara Charter (below):
Currently, for software, two types of requirements documents are commonly
being espoused by the "experts":
* End-user requirements: Commonly referred to as "A bucket of shalls".
Typically, in the main, consists of written statements like: The system
shall do X, and the system shall do Y. Rather extensive informational
interviewing on my part reveals that few create this type of spec (even
though a very good case can be made for the necessity of such).
* Software requirements specifications: Should be created from end-user
requirements. Ideally, consist of (as necessary) data flow diagrams, entity
relationship diagrams, transition state diagrams (each has an OO equivalent)
AND LITTLE OR NO WRITTEN TEXT. However, this ideal seldom (if ever)
happens, so the issue typically is: How much written text do we need to make
the customer buy-in? Answer depends upon size of the system.
Note: There is no one-source on the web (or elsewheres) that discusses all
of this.
Tara Charter asks:
Are your Requirements documents about 1/3 the size of your Specifications?
How long does it take you to set up a Requirements document for a project?
Have you found any useful reference material on the web????
Tony Markatos
(tonymar -at- hotmail -dot- com)
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com