developingprogrammer
asked on
business requirements software
hey guys,
what methods do yall use to collect and collate the business requirements, translate it to user requirements, functional spec, non-functional specs, use cases, test cases etc?
sure can definitely use excel, word and emails to do it, but i thought there might be a better way to do this.
so for this is what i've found and ranked by how good i think they are (i've not tried them yet but am in the process of creating a trial account with them)
1) http://www.blueprintsys.com - this looks like the heaven of business requirements and all
2) http://www.jamasoftware.com/ - this looks really good as well (but from the scarce videos on their website, a significant cry from blueprint. this costs USD 1,000 a year rental and USD 2,000 for perpetual licence - but gotta pay USD 400 every year for maintenance.)
there are others as well i've found but wasn't worth noting down cause it isn't cloud based or the sales people didn't bother to call back / the website was not working (what?!?!?!!!)
==========================
i realise an IT project isn't so scary if we have everything properly mapped out and there is a sanity to the system. if everything is just all verbal and just communicated informally, it is a huge nightmare - one which i'm facing now. of course that being said i am an inchoate developer and have much to learn.
Questions
1) i'm interested in how yall do it in software development companies
2) i'm even more interested how yall do it as lone developers - cause though we're lone developers we need to co-ordinate with our customers and stakeholders and therein lie the massive co-ordination and possible blame game.
help help guys! i think this is so important!!
what methods do yall use to collect and collate the business requirements, translate it to user requirements, functional spec, non-functional specs, use cases, test cases etc?
sure can definitely use excel, word and emails to do it, but i thought there might be a better way to do this.
so for this is what i've found and ranked by how good i think they are (i've not tried them yet but am in the process of creating a trial account with them)
1) http://www.blueprintsys.com - this looks like the heaven of business requirements and all
2) http://www.jamasoftware.com/ - this looks really good as well (but from the scarce videos on their website, a significant cry from blueprint. this costs USD 1,000 a year rental and USD 2,000 for perpetual licence - but gotta pay USD 400 every year for maintenance.)
there are others as well i've found but wasn't worth noting down cause it isn't cloud based or the sales people didn't bother to call back / the website was not working (what?!?!?!!!)
==========================
i realise an IT project isn't so scary if we have everything properly mapped out and there is a sanity to the system. if everything is just all verbal and just communicated informally, it is a huge nightmare - one which i'm facing now. of course that being said i am an inchoate developer and have much to learn.
Questions
1) i'm interested in how yall do it in software development companies
2) i'm even more interested how yall do it as lone developers - cause though we're lone developers we need to co-ordinate with our customers and stakeholders and therein lie the massive co-ordination and possible blame game.
help help guys! i think this is so important!!
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
Haha Jeff, I'm a "programmer" doing high level projects now so that makes me a "disasterprogrammer". I DEFINITELY want to invest in a software for business requirements cause it's so super important!!!
Then you can ignore my post and stay with LSM....
I usually have cloud collaboration as a requirement cause only then is it scalableCloud collaboration has nothing to do with requirement gathering. If you need to do meetings, then use Join.Me (the Pro version is a good investment, IMO).
Jeff makes some very valid points - all the software in the world is not going to replace experience, and requirements gathering is as much about that as anything. Knowing what questions to ask is just as important as asking them. The only way to get to that point is by doing requirement gathering over and over.
Also, many times developers (and especially Access developers) seem to be all over the board in terms of application types, and that makes the requirements process much more difficult. An app to manage Medical Coding, for example, requires a MUCH different requirement gathering process than does one that manages the creation of Widgets.
So as Jeff suggests - instead of worrying which software is best to use for requirement gathering, hone your skills in that area and THEN make a choice of software that fits your needs.
I didn't actually being using Case Complete until I was involved with much larger projects. It's definitely helped me, and has benefited me greatly, but I don't know how much good it would have done me 10 years ago ...
developingprogrammer,
I am always learning too:
1. The link LSM posted: http://casecomplete.com,
...led me directly to a video that clearly explained (*in plain English*) what the product will do.
The interface looked clean, complete and, (above all), easy to understand.
2. The to links you posted were very hard to navigate their sites, and I was not even sure of what the product even did exactly...?
I am sure that they might be great products, ...or perhaps just too complex for me to understand...
So here I will step aside and let you continue on with LSM.
I know that you try to be fair in distributing points, ...
...but really, ...I don't want any for this thread... I always tend to be a bit long-winded, but that is no reason to assign points if the post does not address your issue directly...
Based on what I see, the link that LSM posted looks like it should be your first choice to investigate ...
JeffCoachman
I am always learning too:
1. The link LSM posted: http://casecomplete.com,
...led me directly to a video that clearly explained (*in plain English*) what the product will do.
The interface looked clean, complete and, (above all), easy to understand.
2. The to links you posted were very hard to navigate their sites, and I was not even sure of what the product even did exactly...?
I am sure that they might be great products, ...or perhaps just too complex for me to understand...
So here I will step aside and let you continue on with LSM.
I know that you try to be fair in distributing points, ...
...but really, ...I don't want any for this thread... I always tend to be a bit long-winded, but that is no reason to assign points if the post does not address your issue directly...
Based on what I see, the link that LSM posted looks like it should be your first choice to investigate ...
JeffCoachman
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
hi Christian, whao telepathy!! i was just thinking about asking you how you did your business requirements when i received your email = ))
whao Christian, can you believe that i embarked on a semi major project (it's actually 2 projects joined into one but kept as separate interfacing components) WITHOUT any written business requirements??? my goodness. i can't believe it.
right now, i've thoroughly tested Jama and it is the software i'll be using for sure. because it offers literally EVERY single thing i need. yes i need to key in more data like what you said Christian but unlike you, i'm not a "chaotic programmer". i'm a "disaster programmer". so having a software which acts as a framework to give me adult supervision is most helpful = ) it also integrates with Rally - which is a scrum software. i don't really like rally - i prefer ontimenow - it's a really fantastic piece of art, only thing is it doesn't have repeating tasks!!!!! if not i would have ported my LIFE onto it already. using asana to manage my life now. but for the last 3 months my life hasn't been managed - got 3,500 emails, so i can't say that i'm using asana now ha. sigh.
right now, i'm being completely blown away. because 1) my whole world is being changed by Jama - i'm finally documenting all my business requirements, linking to user requirements, functional requirements, business rules, non-functional requirements, testing, defects tracking - the entire suite. 2) my whole world is being blown away cause i'm finally introduced to the world of TESTING. o h m y g o d . (i apologise to any religion folks here by using that figure of speech) i really, really, really can't believe it. hrmm it's like a stupid dumb child thought that he successfully built a sand castle on the beach so he could build a sky scrapper. can you imagine how dumb that child is? you probably can't cause you'll surely never experience it but..... i experience it cause the dumb child is me!!! ha
i finally see the amount of work that lie ahead of me and i'm.... completely floored. i'm like. holy crap. it's good in a sense, it's bad in a sense. it's good that yes i'm a completely changed programmer. i will NEVER be a disaster programmer again cause i will write out the entire cycle from business requirements to test cases AND link it to scrum so i know what's the effort required, BUT bad in the sense i kiiiinnnnddaaa finally see how screwed i am now ha. you know, this period, i've been trying to hide my head underneath the ground like an ostrich so that i don't see anything and pretend it's all ok ha. (ok probably ostriches don't do that and i'm insulting them now so i shouldn't use that example ha) but yes. it's really, quite, super crazy.
ok, my road map now is - i need to get my scrumming done up. the link and everything. i need to manage myself so i can dig myself out of this meteoric crater i've got myself into. ah..... i really, really, really ,really, really wish i could press restart. but i can't. and if i didn't get myself into so much shit, i probably -- no, i would NEVER have learnt. why must i be so dumb that i must screw myself so much before learning? i wish i were smarter and could learn before self-bashing my head on the wall so many times. sigh.
ok now i must just focus on work-till-i'm-fired. gonna let a lot of people around me down, those who has supported me in work. but oh well, at least i am going to try all the way. and you know what, when i get sacked (ha ok hopefully not, but in order to not get sacked i need to complete this project successfully - which i have completely no faith in ha), i will actually be a lot more relieved.
whao can you imagine the tools i've got now to tackle my iphone project? super amazing. i'm actually so super excited to move on. PLEASE SACK ME!!!! gosh. i've never been so overrun in my life before. now i really know my limits ha.
ok sorry for my ramblings, but thanks so much for your sharing Christian, i doubt i can ever do things like you cause my brain just isn't powerful and robust enough like your to handle so much entropy. for me i need everything organised if not my mind won't work ha.
i gotta reply to Jeff's and LSMConsulting's comments as well, really really good stuff here. ONCE AGAIN, i learnt so much from you guys. if i ever become successful, it's really ALL because of yall = )
ok let me sort out this scrum thing and push this project along and reply yall here = )
whao Christian, can you believe that i embarked on a semi major project (it's actually 2 projects joined into one but kept as separate interfacing components) WITHOUT any written business requirements??? my goodness. i can't believe it.
right now, i've thoroughly tested Jama and it is the software i'll be using for sure. because it offers literally EVERY single thing i need. yes i need to key in more data like what you said Christian but unlike you, i'm not a "chaotic programmer". i'm a "disaster programmer". so having a software which acts as a framework to give me adult supervision is most helpful = ) it also integrates with Rally - which is a scrum software. i don't really like rally - i prefer ontimenow - it's a really fantastic piece of art, only thing is it doesn't have repeating tasks!!!!! if not i would have ported my LIFE onto it already. using asana to manage my life now. but for the last 3 months my life hasn't been managed - got 3,500 emails, so i can't say that i'm using asana now ha. sigh.
right now, i'm being completely blown away. because 1) my whole world is being changed by Jama - i'm finally documenting all my business requirements, linking to user requirements, functional requirements, business rules, non-functional requirements, testing, defects tracking - the entire suite. 2) my whole world is being blown away cause i'm finally introduced to the world of TESTING. o h m y g o d . (i apologise to any religion folks here by using that figure of speech) i really, really, really can't believe it. hrmm it's like a stupid dumb child thought that he successfully built a sand castle on the beach so he could build a sky scrapper. can you imagine how dumb that child is? you probably can't cause you'll surely never experience it but..... i experience it cause the dumb child is me!!! ha
i finally see the amount of work that lie ahead of me and i'm.... completely floored. i'm like. holy crap. it's good in a sense, it's bad in a sense. it's good that yes i'm a completely changed programmer. i will NEVER be a disaster programmer again cause i will write out the entire cycle from business requirements to test cases AND link it to scrum so i know what's the effort required, BUT bad in the sense i kiiiinnnnddaaa finally see how screwed i am now ha. you know, this period, i've been trying to hide my head underneath the ground like an ostrich so that i don't see anything and pretend it's all ok ha. (ok probably ostriches don't do that and i'm insulting them now so i shouldn't use that example ha) but yes. it's really, quite, super crazy.
ok, my road map now is - i need to get my scrumming done up. the link and everything. i need to manage myself so i can dig myself out of this meteoric crater i've got myself into. ah..... i really, really, really ,really, really wish i could press restart. but i can't. and if i didn't get myself into so much shit, i probably -- no, i would NEVER have learnt. why must i be so dumb that i must screw myself so much before learning? i wish i were smarter and could learn before self-bashing my head on the wall so many times. sigh.
ok now i must just focus on work-till-i'm-fired. gonna let a lot of people around me down, those who has supported me in work. but oh well, at least i am going to try all the way. and you know what, when i get sacked (ha ok hopefully not, but in order to not get sacked i need to complete this project successfully - which i have completely no faith in ha), i will actually be a lot more relieved.
whao can you imagine the tools i've got now to tackle my iphone project? super amazing. i'm actually so super excited to move on. PLEASE SACK ME!!!! gosh. i've never been so overrun in my life before. now i really know my limits ha.
ok sorry for my ramblings, but thanks so much for your sharing Christian, i doubt i can ever do things like you cause my brain just isn't powerful and robust enough like your to handle so much entropy. for me i need everything organised if not my mind won't work ha.
i gotta reply to Jeff's and LSMConsulting's comments as well, really really good stuff here. ONCE AGAIN, i learnt so much from you guys. if i ever become successful, it's really ALL because of yall = )
ok let me sort out this scrum thing and push this project along and reply yall here = )
ASKER
hi everybody, thank you for all your super wonderful input and i really appreciate you spending the time to type to me - it is very comforting and reassuring that i've got yall out there always helping me out, i appreciate it so so much = ))
hi LSMConsulting, i checked out CaseComplete and it looks very good. it does indeed have a collaboration feature but it's more like you've got to sync it to the net, instead of working straight from a website. it's a really good product and i tried it a little but i think i prefer Jama.
i was comparing Jama to blue print and i think that Jama is a lot better than blue print though. funny thing is that, if you're a single developer and you wanna buy a single licence, the US office won't let you do it. you must buy the starter package of USD 10k minimum the start using the software. HOWEVER, the UK and Korea office allows you to get a single user licence. for USD 2k. so hint hint, avoid the US office if you wanna get a single user licence ha! = P
hi Christian, i checked out the programmes you listed and thanks for that! = ) they are quite good - and in fact for some of my planning purposes, i also use mindmapping but it's iThoughts on the iPad and iPhone - freemind's competitor ha. it's really quite good and super helpful. = ) like i mentioned in the other question, i am really amazed at how you can be so flexible with the tools you use whilst you build such a big and complex international ERP. truly truly amazing ha.. ya just re-read your post again. really amazing haha what can i say! = )
hi Jeff! thanks for taking the time to share with me so much. well in awarding the points, you made a disclaimer that
well maybe you may not feel it but from a beginner's point of view, your comments and advice really help! because there are just so many gaps in my knowledge and my understanding of things that when you share things which you think are generic, they actually help to formulate my view on things and help me go in the right direction. and many of your comments, Christian's comments, LSMConsulting's comments and the other fantastic experts who have taken the time to share their experiences with me, their comments have helps to guide and form me as well. and so your "long winded" comments are not really long winded and --> yes, they directly address the issue i have at hand = ) not everything is about programming and you've triggered many other parts of this "non-programming" facet i'm trying to cover now = ) thanks so much Jeff!! = ))
hi LSMConsulting, i checked out CaseComplete and it looks very good. it does indeed have a collaboration feature but it's more like you've got to sync it to the net, instead of working straight from a website. it's a really good product and i tried it a little but i think i prefer Jama.
i was comparing Jama to blue print and i think that Jama is a lot better than blue print though. funny thing is that, if you're a single developer and you wanna buy a single licence, the US office won't let you do it. you must buy the starter package of USD 10k minimum the start using the software. HOWEVER, the UK and Korea office allows you to get a single user licence. for USD 2k. so hint hint, avoid the US office if you wanna get a single user licence ha! = P
hi Christian, i checked out the programmes you listed and thanks for that! = ) they are quite good - and in fact for some of my planning purposes, i also use mindmapping but it's iThoughts on the iPad and iPhone - freemind's competitor ha. it's really quite good and super helpful. = ) like i mentioned in the other question, i am really amazed at how you can be so flexible with the tools you use whilst you build such a big and complex international ERP. truly truly amazing ha.. ya just re-read your post again. really amazing haha what can i say! = )
hi Jeff! thanks for taking the time to share with me so much. well in awarding the points, you made a disclaimer that
if the post does not address your issue directly...well maybe you may not feel it but from a beginner's point of view, your comments and advice really help! because there are just so many gaps in my knowledge and my understanding of things that when you share things which you think are generic, they actually help to formulate my view on things and help me go in the right direction. and many of your comments, Christian's comments, LSMConsulting's comments and the other fantastic experts who have taken the time to share their experiences with me, their comments have helps to guide and form me as well. and so your "long winded" comments are not really long winded and --> yes, they directly address the issue i have at hand = ) not everything is about programming and you've triggered many other parts of this "non-programming" facet i'm trying to cover now = ) thanks so much Jeff!! = ))
ASKER
Jeff 2 things that poignantly stood out was - first and foremost
and yes, my "client" - my organisation is paying for my education now. whilst it is "good" for me, it's not sustainable at all because i'm not delivering anything and it is definitely cause a lot a lot of bad blood. i need to ensure that i do a 20% learning 80% contributing. sigh, i thought that if i were hardworking and sedulous i could quickly learn and contribute more. i was wrong. but anyway, what's done is done and cannot be undone. so i've learnt a lot, if this gig falls over then i have the vested responsibility to use whatever i've learnt to contribute to others. i think i will take 2 months off to learn iphone and ipad programming and get a job as an iOS programme. BUT --> learning in these 2 months means RELEASE EARLY RELEASE OFTEN!! ha, Jeff i will NEVER make the same mistake again. sigh sigh sigh. i feel so terrible that i'm not contributing you know? in a way i prefer if my company were to sack me but i need a job and it's all very interdependent i guess ha. i prefer to give than receive. anyway what's done is done and cannot be undone. live 5% in the past, 90% in the present and 5% in the future = )
this is also something i need to be poignantly aware of. yes, cool projects that are not "worthwhile" at the moment may blossom into something very good - or even just the training of it will be great. however if it's a project at work, like the above paragraph, i need to consider if it will contribute positively to the company = )
if the client pays for your "Education"
and yes, my "client" - my organisation is paying for my education now. whilst it is "good" for me, it's not sustainable at all because i'm not delivering anything and it is definitely cause a lot a lot of bad blood. i need to ensure that i do a 20% learning 80% contributing. sigh, i thought that if i were hardworking and sedulous i could quickly learn and contribute more. i was wrong. but anyway, what's done is done and cannot be undone. so i've learnt a lot, if this gig falls over then i have the vested responsibility to use whatever i've learnt to contribute to others. i think i will take 2 months off to learn iphone and ipad programming and get a job as an iOS programme. BUT --> learning in these 2 months means RELEASE EARLY RELEASE OFTEN!! ha, Jeff i will NEVER make the same mistake again. sigh sigh sigh. i feel so terrible that i'm not contributing you know? in a way i prefer if my company were to sack me but i need a job and it's all very interdependent i guess ha. i prefer to give than receive. anyway what's done is done and cannot be undone. live 5% in the past, 90% in the present and 5% in the future = )
is the software going to tell you if a project is worth your while or not?
this is also something i need to be poignantly aware of. yes, cool projects that are not "worthwhile" at the moment may blossom into something very good - or even just the training of it will be great. however if it's a project at work, like the above paragraph, i need to consider if it will contribute positively to the company = )
ASKER
LSMConsulting, yup that definitely looks like a very good piece of software. I have to check it out further in detail. I usually have cloud collaboration as a requirement cause only then is it scalable = )