If you were to search ‘requirements elicitation cartoon’ in google images, you would see there are several cartoons that compare Requirements Elicitation to Torture.
So why do people compare requirements elicitation to torture? After some research I have found that these are the top 5 reasons that subject matter experts (SMEs) and stakeholders believe Requirements Gathering feels like torture.
People Feel Like They Are Being Locked In Against Their Will
They are forced to participate. People hate to be told to do anything. Even if they know it needs to be done. I heard someone compare it to getting a root canal.
People Feel Badgered
They feel like their answers are either never believed or never good enough. It needs a level of conviction to prove your points and it can take long discussions to summarise your views.
Disagreements Often Lead To Arguments
When people are providing their opinion, there always seems to be someone else who has a different opinion and sometimes conflicting opinion. Conflict resolution with the stakeholders can be challenging but can reap positive outcomes if taken forward in a healthy manner.
Too Much Information To Process At Once
Ever see those movies where someone’s eyes are being forced open and they must watch images flashing on a screen? Well, that is what someone described requirements gathering workshops. You are being bombarded with information and not given enough time to process it.
People Feel Like They Are Given Impossible Tasks
- Making decisions in these situations can feel like being asked to defuse a bomb and not being told which wire to cut. A wrong answer could lead everyone to disaster.
- Take requirements gathering out of a cramped and stuffy room, try coffee room for a change.
- Recognize when people are getting bored.
- Show gratitude or excitement when someone gives you the answers you need.
- Create a culture of acceptance of any information.
- Give everyone equal say. Your listening skills can come handy in this area.
- Remind everyone that requirements and information do not have titles only priorities.
- Reduce the tech jargon. You can talk tech, but most SMEs cannot. When they hear ‘JSON’ they think you are talking about a guy.
- Ask clarifying questions, so others in the room can keep up.
- Recognize when people are feeling cornered and back off.
- Allow the people in the room to ask you questions.
- Break out silly techniques. Like reverse king for a day or brainstorm on the opposite.
- Be OK with incomplete answers. You can always find the best answer later.
- Have a parking lot to put items that need further research or their own meeting.
- Remind everyone that this stage is just the research part of the process, that there is still analysis, prioritization, and assessment, so any answer is a good answer.
Our job is to find the answers not host an inquisition. Let’s do our part to make it fun and exciting. Is that asking too much? Well at least keep it from being painful.
