Seminar: Effective Requirements Management (15 PDUs)

(This seminar is also offered by PMI SeminarsWorld.  See PMI public offerings in the Schedule page in this web site).

Next public offering:  Dates:  TBD;  Location:  Research Triangle Park (Raleigh), North Carolina

For online seminar, take your own time for six months from your registration date, $399 (15 PDUs).

Register for the online seminar here!
 

Seminar Description

Poor requirements management processes (or lack thereof) have been identified as a leading cause of project failure. To address this problem a number of approaches help deal with requirements definition and requirement gathering.

This workshop deals with requirements management processes and how they address project failures/problems. Tools and techniques for requirements development, requirements definition, requirements gathering and elicitation, requirements analysis, requirements verification and requirement change management will be explored.

Elements of an effective requirements management process will be discussed to help participants develop a practical methodology for handling and managing requirements for their organization.

The challenges in implementing a requirements management process will be discussed, as well as how requirement tools and techniques can be applied to practical workplace situations to overcome challenges in implementing effective requirement management processes.

Who should attend this seminar?

• Project managers and business analysts who have responsibility to run a project and/or develop requirements definition, functional requirements and business process requirements
• Program management office (PMO) managers/directors interested in developing a standard requirements management process for their organization
• Project management consultants interested in understanding the benefits and challenges of implementing a requirements management process and in learning how a requirements management process can impact customer satisfaction, project performance and the organizational performance

What will the seminar cover?

• Reasons for project failure: A discussion of where requirements management process fits in the project management model. Real-world cases will be explored, including industry examples experiencing high percentages of project failure.
• The need for a requirements management process: How a requirements management process can address most causes for project delays and failures
• Handling requirements and requirement changes: Common approaches in handling requirements and requirement changes
• Tools and techniques in requirements development, verification and change management: Workshop exercises in requirements processes
• Challenges in implementing a requirements management process: Understanding  the challenges in implementing a requirements management process and effective ways to handle them
• Elements of an effective requirements management process: Workshop discussion and exercises to tailor a general approach
• Best practices in requirements management: A discussion of how these practices prove effective for many organizations.

Seminar participants will learn to:

• Use requirement processes to address project failures/problems
• Identify the elements of an effective requirements management process
• Apply tools and techniques for requirements development (including requirements definition, gathering and elicitation, analysis), requirements verification and requirements change management
• Apply requirement tools and techniques to workplace situations, e.g., in gathering, writing, analyzing requirements)
• Develop a requirements management plan
• Create a requirements definition baseline
• Process requirement change requests
• Tailor a general approach in handling requirements into a practical requirements management methodology applicable to the workplace
• Handle challenges in implementing a requirements management process
• Utilize requirement management processes in improving organizational performance.

Course Outline:

1. Reasons for Project Failure
   The workshop starts with a discussion of Project Management Processes, where Requirements Management Process fits in the PM model. Real-world cases will be explored, including industry examples experiencing high percentages of project failure.

2. The Need for a Requirements Management Process
   The discussion will cover how a Requirements Management Process can address most causes for project delays and failures.

3. Handling Requirements and Requirement Changes
   Common approaches in handling requirements and requirement changes will be discussed.

4. Tools and Techniques in Requirements Development, Requirements Verification and Requirements Change Management. Participants will be involved in workshop exercises that employ different tools and techniques in Requirements Processes.

5. Challenges in Implementing a Requirements Management Process
   Participants will develop an understanding of the challenges in implementing a Requirements Management Process and learn effective ways to handle the challenges.

6. Elements of an Effective Requirements Management Process
   Elements of an effective Requirements Management Process will be discussed. A recommended Requirement Management Process will be presented. Workshop discussion and exercises will give participants the opportunity to tailor this general approach and develop a practical methodology for their organization.

7. Best Practices in Requirements Management
   Best Practices used by organizations will be explored, including a discussion of how these practices prove effective for many organizations.

Instructor's Bio

Victoria S. Kumar, MS, PMP

Victoria S. Kumar, PMP, has over 20 years of information technology (IT) project management experience, including 10 years with IBM and 7 years in IT consulting. She is a project manager for the state of North Carolina, USA, Office of the State Controller. She holds two master's degrees: one in Pure Mathematics, and another in Computer Science. She also has PhD credits in management science from the University of Waterloo (Canada) and has earned a master's certificate in IT Project Management from George Washington University (USA). She is a Past President of the PMI-North Carolina Chapter. She has served with the chapter’s board of directors for the last seven years. She co-founded the chapter's PMO Local Interest Group. She has been active in the PMO community, serving as a PMO program manager and as a PMO consultant in both the private and public sectors for the last eight years. She is a graduate of the PMI Leadership Institute (Master's Class of 2004) and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®). She is a frequent speaker at PMI global congress and at PMI Chapter Symposia. As a seminar leader for Project Management Leaders Training, a PMI Registered Education Provider, she delivers Project Management seminars and online courses (eSeminars) to PMI SeminarsWorld®, to PMI Components, and to project management communities globally. Her seminars on Requirements Management and on Program Management Offices are well received by project management communities globally.