According to the Standish Group, CHAOS Report, 2000 26% of software projects succeed. That means 74% failed! Failure includes failure to complete on time and/or failure to meet client requirements fully.

What are the reasons for a high rate of failure among software projects?

Here are some:
• User Input is inadequate
• Objectives are not clear
• Incomplete Requirements and Specifications
• Frequent changes in requirements and specifications
• Poor Planning

How can these problems be overcome in a real life scenario?

Requirements management can go a long way in significantly improving the situation. Rational Software offers a good definition for requirements management. According to Rational, Requirements Management is a systematic approach to eliciting, documenting, organizing and tracking changing requirements.

To understand Requirements in the context of a Software Project, one needs to understand requirements through the eyes of the various stakeholders involved with that project.

The key is to optimize the various needs and synergize between the various stakeholders to achieve maximum leverage.

The other aspect about requirements is that they seldom stay put. If development teams dread anything, it is the fluctuations in requirements. Let us examine a few causes for change in requirements.

• Failed to ask the right people the right questions at the right time.
• The Problem being solved changed
• Users changed their minds on their perceptions
• Budgets are cut
• Competitors introduced new technologies and features

The IEEE list of Software Requirement qualities lay down that Requirements must be unambiguous, complete, correct, consistent, traceable, modifiable, understandable, verifiable, ranked for importance and stability.

Are you considering outsourcing software projects?

Here is something to consider. Outsourcing is indeed a great idea and it makes a lot of business sense. And with the power of the Internet, it works perfectly well.

Nevertheless, if your requirements are not managed well, even the best software team will fail to give you what you want. Requirements management is critical throughout the lifecycle of the software project. It is often misunderstood in its scope and significance. Did you know that the development methodology used by the developer plays an important role in requirements management? You will be surprised how much it will reveal to you how your requirements are being met.

About IWD

IWD is the .NET division of Bangalore based Stylus Systems Pvt. Ltd. IWD offers qualified and experienced .NET Software Engineers on contract to global companies to work from IWD premises. CIOs whose roles are changing from purely technical to business oriented solutions development find our .NET Software Engineers very useful and productive towards realizing their company’s goal and the overall development of the IT department. Contact us with your outsourcing requirements. Our Client Engagement Team will get back to you within 24 hours.

With our experience in handling over 250 clients across the globe, we have designed efficient processes which will help CIOs and IT managers in providing a valuable contribution in reaching their business goals. This has helped us in gaining quality experience with technology and we specialize in .NET technology.