Chapter 2: Software Requirements – Collecting, Documenting, Managing

Collecting requirements is arguably one of the most frustrating activities in software production for several reasons. Difficulties often arise because it is never completely clear who the owner is, as well as because architects cannot do a good design without certain requisites, and developers, of course, can't do a proper job without the designs.

However, it is fairly common practice for a development team to start doing something without a complete requirements collection job because there is no time. Indeed, what often happens, especially in regards to large and complex projects, is that the milestones are put in place before the project scope is completely defined. In this industry, since software is an intangible product (not like a building or a bridge), budget approval is usually a more fluid process. Therefore, it's not unusual to have a project approved before all the details (including...