NotoWare

Workplace Learning Software

  • Home
  • NotoWare
    • Planning and Implementing Workplace Changes
    • Workplace Learning for Performance & Success
    • Keep the Business Running Smoothly
    • Accelerate Process Improvement
    • Ensure Quality and Compliance
    • Satisfy the 5 Moments of Learning Need
  • About Us
    • Company Profile
    • News
    • NotoWare Inspiration
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Us
    • Demo Sign-Up
    • Customer Support
  • Blog
  • Videos
You are here: Home / Workplace Learning / Use Procedures for the Elicitation of Requirements

Use Procedures for the Elicitation of Requirements

April 14, 2014 By Michael Sinotte Leave a Comment

Software development

Employee procedures are one of your strongest collaboration tools for the elicitation of business requirements. As you perform the elicitation analysis for process improvement projects, use your employee procedures as a platform to identify business needs, formulate requirements and conduct impact analysis.

Identifying Business Needs

The success of process improvement projects greatly relies on being able to properly identify business needs.  Business needs are the issues that negatively affect the efficiency and/or the quality of the work performed in the process. The process has efficiency issues where the work being performed is taking too long or there are quality issues that require extra work steps to correct the quality  problems.

Use your procedures to pinpoint these efficiency/quality issues by identifying the steps within the procedures that slow down the process or the extra steps required to address quality problems.  Demonstrate with your procedures, the steps that will be removed or modified as part of your process improvement project.  By using your procedures as a collaboration platform to develop this list, you can reduce the confusion that can accompany discussions about business needs.

Formulating Requirements

You can use your procedures to pinpoint where the new requirement functionality (user interface or automation) will be implemented in the process.  Even before the requirement design details have been fully flushed out, you can present to stakeholders the procedure location where they can expect to see the new functionality.  Using procedures, you can provide the stakeholders with simulations of how the new requirements will work in the process.

Conduct Impact Analysis

Procedures can be used to perform due diligence analysis to identify other process areas that may be adversely impacted by the new functionality. Then you can assess what (if any) procedural steps need to be adjusted to prepare the users for the new changes.  The use of procedures allows you to conducted a comprehensive analysis of possible impacts resulting from the new requirements.

Post Elicitation Benefits

The procedure information identified during elicitation can further benefit stakeholders later in the development process. For example:

  • Process owners can factor in the procedure information to help make decisions on prioritizing which requirements will be developed and which will be placed on the backlog.
  • The procedure information will help guide developers with their programming efforts by providing them a better understanding of the purpose behind the requirements.
  • Employee training will greatly benefit from the use of procedures during elicitation of requirements.  By identifying the affected procedures during elicitation, you have already performed a portion of the work needed for updating the procedures that will be used for training.

When you begin your next business analysis project, keep in mind that procedure information is a valuable knowledge resource that can be used from the beginning to the end of the process improvement project.

Filed Under: Workplace Learning Tagged With: business analyst, employee training, job instructions, procedure management, process improvement, work instructions

About Michael Sinotte

President of Tri-J Solutions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


Sign up for an on-line NotoWare demo.
Book a Demo
Contact us to see how we can help you.
Contact Us
Subscribe to receive articles about ways to improve managing your processes.
Subscribe

Workplace Learning Blog

Using Job Tasks for More Efficient PDCA Cycles

Using Job Tasks for More Efficient PDCA Cycles

PDCA is a widely recognized model that’s used for continuous improvement of business processes.  This article discusses how to incorporate job tasks in the model for clearer definition of changes and faster process improvement. Using a job task approach improves the quality of PDCA cycles by providing a method for implementing change.  Job tasks describe the detailed instructions […]

A Meaningful Job for Interns

A Meaningful Job for Interns

It’s a challenge to find meaningful jobs for interns.  They are typically inexperienced and have short work periods which makes it difficult to give them substantial assignments.  Yet, companies still need to provide them with more worthwhile jobs than sweeping floors or filing documents.  Interns should be exposed to a meaningful work experience that prepares them for future careers. […]

How Job Aids Accelerate Employee Learning

How Job Aids Accelerate Employee Learning

Job aids help employees get up to speed faster and achieve a higher level of performance.  They reduce initial training time by allowing employees to learn more efficiently, using on-the-job knowledge.  Job aids also provide a convenient tool for sustained learning, offering a long-term approach to training. Job aids are available in many different forms and have evolved to versatile, computer-based solutions.  […]

Benefits of Managing Job Task Instructions

Benefits of Managing Job Task Instructions

Everyone performs job tasks as part of their day-day work activities. Yet, how many of these tasks are actually recorded and stored for future use?  Focusing on the importance of task instructions may require a shift in company mindset. Managers usually pay more attention to higher level process planning documents such as policies and procedures.  Capturing […]

More Posts from this Category

NotoWare Videos

NotoWare Job Knowledge Video

This video illustrates how NotoWare empowers employees by providing them with quick access to process, procedure, and job … Read more...

Ensure Quality and Compliance

Ensure Quality and Compliance

NotoWare improves quality and ensures compliance by providing companies with a consistent method for managing procedure information which is stored in a reliable application.  An automatic e-mail notification system is used to inform employees about procedure changes so that they are always … Read more...

General Information

Tri-J Solutions' NotoWare software product provides companies with a solution to simplify workplace learning and systemize their business processes.

Tri-J Solutions, Inc.
P.O. Box 1453
Skippack, PA 19474-1453

Phone: 610-222-4881
Fax: 610-365-7660
sales@tri-jsolutions.com

Connect with us:

  • Facebook
  • Linkedin

Copyright Tri-J Solutions Inc. 2017