Introduction
Many projects fail long before a single line of code is written.
The root cause is often poor requirements gathering.
When requirements are misunderstood, incomplete, or rushed, the resulting solution may solve the wrong problem entirely.
The Solution Trap
One of the most common mistakes is proposing a solution before fully understanding the problem.
Consider the following statement:
We need a mobile application.
Do we really?
Or do we need faster access to information?
A mobile application may be one possible solution, but it should not become the starting point of the conversation.
The Importance of Questions
Good requirements gathering involves asking questions.
Lots of questions.
Questions such as:
- What problem are we trying to solve?
- Who is affected?
- How is the process performed today?
- What are the biggest pain points?
- What would success look like?
The better the questions, the better the eventual solution.
The Hidden Costs of Poor Requirements
Poor requirements often lead to:
- Cost overruns
- Scope creep
- Delays
- User dissatisfaction
- Rework
Each of these consequences can be far more expensive than spending additional time understanding the problem upfront.
Closing Thoughts
Technology can solve many problems.
The challenge is making sure we're solving the right one.
