When it comes to electronic product development, many books have been written about the importance of project requirements development before product development. Why? Because the requirements phase of development is what provides a strong foundation for an effective development structure and ultimately a successful product rollout. Requirements development has a significant effect on an organization's development costs and product quality as well as whether a product ever actually makes it to market. Well developed requirements identify performance needs applicable standards and fills in gaps, all with the benefit of improving, budgets, schedules, product success and quality. The key is to adhere to these 9 basic rules of product Requirements development at the beginning.
Electronic product development is the source of its future to companies and great satisfaction for inventors as well as revenue for both, yet it can also be loaded with frustrations and unintended consequences ambushes. The path to quality electrical engineering begins with excellent requirements. Taken seriously and executed industriously defining requirements will increase the chances of delivering on-schedule, on-budget nearly every time. Incomplete or changing requirements and specifications are among the top contributing causes of challenged and at risk projects. As in building a house... the architect has to make the blueprints before the foundation can be laid and before the walls and roof go up.
There are typically several types of necessary and essential requirements involved in electronic product development. Each individual might interpret the word "Requirements" in a different way. This is perfectly legitimate; however a plan must exist to bring all of these different concepts together. Industry and product function is the first requirements to consider.
1. Consumer expectations (What is wanted)?
2. Business Requirements comprising objectives for the product. (Why is it needed, how much should it be sold for)?
3. User Requirements that delineate what functions can be performed by users of the electronic device. (What does it need to do)?
4. Design specifications, which encompass both the non-functional and the functional requirements. These include: objectives, performance, regulatory compliance, design and implementation constraints, and user or other external interface requirements.
Extensive research shows that timely and reliable knowledge about the requirements is the single-most crucial area of information essential for electronic product development. Expending a little extra energy on this step will pay off in lower development costs and a better finished product.
Rule #1: Use Clear and Concise Language for Requirements
Being specific is essential. Vague or indistinct words should be avoided when writing requirements. Words like "and/or" and "etc." should never be used. It's asking for trouble to incorporate words like "user-friendly, intuitive, minimize, maximize, optimize, rapid, state-of-the-art, improved, efficient or simple." Save them for your advertising campaign. Sometimes unknown information must be left out or the original requirements for products that are being developed iteratively. It is acceptable to insert "TBD (To Be Determined) until the details are worked out.
Rule #2: Assign Priorities
Clarify which features are priorities so the development team is not left with a question of which features to trade against. Not all tasks end up being worthwhile in the end. You may want to consider sacrificing them for more important ones if necessary. An example is power budget; perhaps you will want to give up a couple of bells or whistles to get more battery life for your product. Leave some room for adjustments because they will happen. New requirements, bright ideas or changes will have to be worked in.
Rule #3: Encourage Stakeholder Participation
Adequate stakeholder involvement is crucial when designing electronic products. Developers should obtain information and perspective from the appropriate stakeholders before making any requirements decisions. Surprises are rarely good ones at the end of a project. Identify your key decision-makers early in the project so you know who can decide on matters to allow the project to continue moving forward. Also important is identifying who can drive a change or investigation as this will affect schedule and cost.
Rule #4: Know Which Regulatory Requirements Must Be Met For Your Industry
Regulatory requirements are a major driver in the development of any product. There are a number of federal agencies that require safety compliance for various products and industries. These many regulations must be identified up front during requirements development so that the product can be designed to comply with those regulations that are applicable. Products are tested and must pass specific safety regulations before they are allowed into the market. A medical device has very specific and different set of tests than a consumer device does and these affect almost every level of development of a product.
Rule # 5: Keep Moving - Use Iteration & a Wish List
Skimping on requirements is never recommended but neither is becoming paralyzed on some portion of the process. If the development is delayed until all possible requirement modifications or ideas that you could ever possibly think of have been implemented... It could stall the project. Proceed in such a way as to permit development to continue at satisfactory risk level by using iteration and tracking exactly what a revision is about on the front page with a "wish list" for future features in the back. Marathon-analysis runs the risk of stalling a project, entangling it in the requirements. Once the basics have been captured, get on with it; don't get ensnared in a never-ending re-write of the perfect requirements document. Having a place and a process to capture and fold in the information will aid with this tendency.
Rule # 6: Watch for Scope Creep
"Scope creep" is the addition of ideas and tasks and may indicate a loss of focus. This pushes costs and schedules and may not really support the "Big Picture". Allow some room for growth in your requirements, yes, but weigh the benefits. Functionality is usually being added or changed during the development process. If the product scope was well-defined at the beginning it will ease the pain of accommodating ongoing modifications while still meeting the deadline or staying on budget.
Rule #7: Examine Effects of Changes
Systematically review the implications of all changes. Identify functions and tasks linked with each change and determine what the schedule and monetary impacts will be before continuing. Adopt a defined process for dealing with requirements changes.
Rule # 8: Get it in Writing
Documentation of where a requirement came from is always a good idea. Is it a higher-level system requirement, industry standard, business rules, government regulations or other functional requirements? There may be a point where it must be traced back to the original requirements so that comparisons and trades can be made.
Rule # 9: Define the Acceptance Test
The product requirements must be documented, measurable, actionable and above all testable. In the requirements document itself, define the tests that will be used to demonstrate and prove the product works to the stated requirements. Defining the acceptance tests at the start always clarifies what the end product needs to be.
Developing thorough requirements at the start of the design process gives a distinct advantage to those who understand the benefits of doing so. The ability to identify beneficial changes and add to or subtract from the requirements will ensure that you are working within the parameters of a good foundation for electronic product development. Establish exemplary communication between the team members, because design requirements sometimes need to change quickly to capture efficiencies. Flexibility and the ability to make changes are necessary throughout the product development process and can be accomplished more easily when the requirements are well established. Requirements management and the use of established electronic product development methodology will go far toward avoiding ambiguities, vague wording, loopholes, or unnoticed design needs or shortcomings. Following these rules as the requirements are developed will start the product on the journey to success.
Gaile Meeks
Advantage Electronic
Product Development, Inc.
34 Garden Center
Broomfield, Colorado 80020
voice 303.410.0292
fax 866.841.5581
http://www.Advantage-Dev.com
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