How do you elicit software requirements from remote stakeholders?

1 Choose the right tools

To successfully elicit software requirements from remote stakeholders, IT consultants must select the right tools for communication, collaboration, and documentation. These tools should be reliable, secure, and easy to use for all involved. Popular tools used for remote software requirements engineering include video conferencing platforms like Zoom, Skype, or Google Meet; online collaboration platforms like Miro, Lucidchart, or Trello; and online documentation platforms such as Google Docs, Confluence, or Jira. These tools can be used to conduct interviews or workshops with remote stakeholders, create and share diagrams or boards that capture the software requirements visually and interactively, and write and manage the software requirements documents such as user stories, use cases, or functional specifications.

2 Establish clear communication

The second step to elicit software requirements from remote stakeholders is to establish clear communication protocols and expectations. It is important to communicate frequently, transparently, and respectfully with your remote stakeholders in order to build trust and understanding. To ensure successful software requirements engineering, you should define the roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder and the IT consultant. Additionally, you should schedule regular meetings or calls with remote stakeholders to discuss the software requirements, provide feedback, or resolve issues. To ensure effective communication, use multiple communication channels such as email, chat, or phone. Additionally, use clear and concise language, avoid jargon or ambiguity, and confirm the understanding of the software requirements with the remote stakeholders.

3 Apply agile techniques

The third step to elicit software requirements from remote stakeholders is to apply agile techniques that allow for flexibility, feedback, and iteration. Agile software development is a methodology that emphasizes delivering software in small and frequent increments, rather than in a single large release. IT consultants can use agile techniques to help them elicit software requirements from remote stakeholders more effectively and efficiently. These techniques include user stories, acceptance criteria, backlog refinement, sprint planning, and sprint review. User stories are short and simple descriptions of what the software should do from the perspective of the end user. Acceptance criteria are the conditions that the software should meet to satisfy the user stories. Backlog refinement is the process of reviewing, prioritizing, and estimating the user stories in the product backlog. Sprint planning is the process of selecting the user stories that will be delivered in the next sprint, or a short period of time. Sprint review is the process of demonstrating the software functionality to remote stakeholders and collecting their feedback.

4 Validate and verify the software requirements

The fourth step to elicit software requirements from remote stakeholders is to validate and verify them. Validation checks whether the software requirements match the needs and expectations of the remote stakeholders, while verification ensures they are complete, consistent, and testable. Doing so can help avoid errors, misunderstandings, or conflicts later in the software development process. IT consultants can use prototyping to create a mockup or simulation of the software, testing to execute it and check for acceptance criteria, reviewing to inspect documents or models for errors or inconsistencies, and walkthroughs to explain the software requirements and get feedback from remote stakeholders.

5 Document and manage the software requirements

The fifth step to elicit software requirements from remote stakeholders is to document and manage them. This involves recording the requirements in a structured and standardized format that can be easily understood, shared, and maintained, as well as tracking and controlling any changes throughout the software development process. Doing so can help ensure the quality, accuracy, and traceability of the software requirements. IT consultants typically use a common template or format for the documents or models that adheres to industry or organizational best practices and standards. They also use a common repository or platform for storing and accessing the software requirements, as well as a common process or tool for managing changes that involves identifying, analyzing, approving, and communicating them to remote stakeholders.

6 Involve the remote stakeholders

The sixth and final step to elicit software requirements from remote stakeholders is to involve them throughout the software requirements engineering process. Involvement means engaging, empowering, and educating the remote stakeholders to participate actively and constructively in the software requirements engineering activities. Involving the remote stakeholders can help you elicit software requirements that are more relevant, realistic, and reliable. IT consultants can involve the remote stakeholders in the software requirements engineering process by asking open-ended questions, listening actively, and empathizing with their needs. It’s also beneficial to encourage feedback, suggestions, and opinions from the remote stakeholders to improve the quality of the software requirements. Additionally, providing training, guidance, and support to the remote stakeholders can help familiarize them with the tools, techniques, and terminology of the software requirements engineering.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?