Ambiguity and improve the requirement capture and implementation processes.

at
Categories
Tags

 

Business users often describe requirements from their perspective and from what they want. System architects turn these desires into technical requirements. Within this process, there are many places for ambiguity to take hold. Complete the following:

· Research and find a recent software/programming example where the final application did not meet the end user’s needs.

· Describe if the requirements were written in quantitative or qualitative measurable terms.

· Discuss what could have been done to help mitigate ambiguity and improve the requirement capture and implementation processes.

 

Sample Solution

The Fyre Festival

The Fyre Festival was a music festival that was promoted as an ultra-luxurious event on the Bahamian island of Great Exuma. The festival was supposed to feature top tier musical talent, gourmet food, and luxurious accommodations. However, when the festival actually took place in April 2017, it was a disaster. The festival grounds were not ready, the food was inedible, and the accommodations were far from luxurious. Many festival-goers were stranded on the island with no way to get home.

The Fyre Festival is a classic example of how ambiguity can lead to project failure. The festival organizers did not have a clear understanding of what the end users’ needs were. They assumed that the end users wanted a luxurious festival experience, but they did not take the time to actually understand what the end users wanted. This led to a lot of ambiguity in the requirements for the festival.

The requirements for the Fyre Festival were written in qualitative terms. The organizers used words like “luxury” and “exquisite” to describe the festival experience, but they did not provide any specific measurements or metrics. This made it difficult to translate the requirements into technical specifications.

There are a number of things that could have been done to help mitigate ambiguity and improve the requirement capture and implementation processes for the Fyre Festival. First, the organizers should have conducted more thorough user research to understand what the end users’ needs were. Second, they should have written the requirements in quantitative terms with specific measurements and metrics. Third, they should have involved the end users in the requirements gathering and implementation process.

The Fyre Festival is a cautionary tale about the importance of clear and unambiguous requirements. When requirements are ambiguous, it is easy for misunderstandings to occur and for projects to fail. By taking the time to gather clear and unambiguous requirements, project managers can help to ensure that their projects are successful.

Here are some additional thoughts on the Fyre Festival and the importance of clear and unambiguous requirements:

  • The Fyre Festival is a reminder that even the best-laid plans can go awry when there is ambiguity in the requirements.
  • It is important to involve the end users in the requirements gathering and implementation process. This helps to ensure that the requirements are actually met.
  • It is also important to write the requirements in quantitative terms with specific measurements and metrics. This makes it easier to translate the requirements into technical specifications.

By following these tips, project managers can help to mitigate ambiguity and improve the chances of project success.

This question has been answered.

Get Answer