Stop Gathering Requirements - Start Defining Success

John Eckman • @jeckman • #wcto

S T O P G AT H E R I N G R E Q U I R E M E N T S S TA R T D E F I N I N G S U C C E S S


R E Q U I R E M E N T S A R E N E V E R “ G AT H E R E D ”

https://twitter.com/jeckman/status/719852834947248129







https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV7u1VBhWCE


R E Q U I R E M E N T S A R E N ’ T G AT H E R E D

• They don’t exist yet

• People don’t know what they want until they see it

• Some don’t know what they want until they see enough of “not it”

• Your job is to help them understand what could be, not take orders

http://bizarro.com/comics/february-7-2015/


“ B U Y E R S A R E L I A R S ”


“ B U Y E R S A R E L I A R S ”


“Scope definition is a full-contact sport”

- J O H N E C K M A N

https://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2013/05/13/toronto_maple_leafs_defenceman_jake_gardiner_goes_from_healthy_scratch_to_difference_maker_vs_boston_bruins_cox.html

https://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2013/05/13/toronto_maple_leafs_defenceman_jake_gardiner_goes_from_healthy_scratch_to_difference_maker_vs_boston_bruins_cox.html


http://www.productmanagerclub.com/2016/04/27/show-dont-ask/#prettyPhoto

http://www.productmanagerclub.com/2016/04/27/show-dont-ask/#prettyPhoto


https://hbr.org/2011/08/henry-ford-never-said-the-fast




We have no evidence that Ford ever said those words.




We have no evidence that Ford ever said those words.

“his tone-deafness to customers’ needs . . . had a very costly and

negative impact”



I N S T E A D , D E F I N E S U C C E S S


D E F I N I N G S U C C E S S

What?

For Whom?

Why?








S H O W D O N ’ T T E L L

• Sketch, Prototype, Iterate

• Test - with real users

• Measure and define baselines against which to track improvement




John Eckman • @jeckman • #wctohttp://www.tamingdata.com/2010/07/08/the-project-management-tree-swing-cartoon-past-and-present/


K E E P O P T I O N S O P E N

• Don’t get locked in to “over-specified” requirements

• Differentiate between goals and tactics, make sure requests are aligned

• Requirements will change (they should!)

• Plan far enough in advance, (but no farther)


C O N T R AC T S

• How can you do contracts in the absence of detailed requirements?

• Discovery as a paid effort, based on high level definition

• Scope to budget

• BRD as a fetish object - gives us the impression of control (not the reality)

[email protected] @jeckman

johneckman.com openparenthesis.org

goatless.org

Leadership & Management

Stop Gathering Requirements - Start Defining Success