Managing Needs and Requirements (UMTPM013)   Register Online   Overview All projects arise in response to needs. In theory, the whole project effort should be geared toward addressing these needs. Unfortunately, needs are often incorrectly identified, poorly articulated, or simply ignored. Requirements, in turn, are the physical embodiment of the needs. If needs are poorly defined, then the requirements that address them will be off-target, no matter how brilliantly formulated. Ultimately, many project failures are rooted in the poor development of needs and requirements at the project outset. In this case, project work has not even begun when failure is hardwired into the project. This course focuses on all aspects of the needs-requirements life-cycle, including needs recognition, needs articulation, development of business requirements, development of functional requirements, and development of specifications. It reviews the pitfalls practitioners face in identifying the full range of customers, sorting through the contending needs of multiple customers, articulating needs so that technical personnel can understand them, and managing changes to requirements (scope creep). It examines significant techniques that help in the elicitation and specification of both needs and requirements. Note: Students who take Managing Needs and Requirements should not take UMTIT282. Information Technology Project Management. Objectives To help students to: Understand the central role of requirements in developing effective solutions Discover how to formulate clear requirements that reflect what customers need and want Identify different approaches that can be implemented in order to manage changes to requirements What You Will Learn The universal pitfalls associated with defining needs and requirements How needs evolve into requirements How projects always have multiple customers with contending needs and wants; and how to sort through these needs and wants How to bridge the requirements gap between business users and the technical team How to elicit requirements with techniques such as P/E diagrams, context diagrams, structured English, flow charts, rapid prototyping and JAD sessions PMBOK® Guide Process Areas Initiating Planning Executing Controlling Closing PMBOK® Guide Knowledge Areas Project Human Resource Management Project Integration Management Project Time Management Project Scope Management Project Cost Management Project Procurement Management Instruction Course modules containing cutting-edge knowledge developed by renowned experts in project management Course Textbook: The New Project Management (2nd edition, 2002), by Dr. J. Davidson Frame "Think and Review" section that helps you review key points of the modules Answers to the "Think and Review" section A final exam which contains multiple choice and true/false questions Certificate of Completion.     Register Online