Satisfy Stakeholders by Solving the Right Problems, in the Right Ways   In Beyond Requirements, Kent J. McDonald shows how applying analysis techniques with an agile mindset can radically transform analysis from merely “gathering and documenting requirements” to an important activity teams use to build shared understanding. First, McDonald discusses the unique agile mindset, reviews the key principles underlying it, and shows how these principles link to effective analysis. Next, he puts these principles to work in four wide-ranging and thought-provoking case studies. Finally, he drills down on a full set of techniques for effective agile analysis, using examples to show how, why, and when they work.   McDonald’s strategies will teach you how to understand stakeholders’ needs, identify the best solution for satisfying those needs, and build a shared understanding of your solution that persists throughout the product lifecycle. He also demonstrates how to iterate your analysis, taking advantage of what you learn throughout development, testing, and deployment so that you can continuously adapt, refine, and improve.   Whether you’re an analysis practitioner or you perform analysis tasks as a developer, manager, or tester, McDonald’s techniques will help your team consistently find and deliver better solutions.   Coverage includes Core concepts for analysis: needs/ solutions, outcome/output, discovery/delivery Adapting Lean Startup ideas for IT projects: customer delivery, build–measure–learn, and metrics Structuring decisions, recognizing differences between options and commitments, and overcoming cognitive biases Focusing on value: feature injection, minimum viable products, and minimum marketable features Understanding how analysis flows alongside your project’s lifecycle Analyzing users: mapping stakeholders, gauging commitment, and creating personas Understanding context: performing strategy (enterprise) analysis Clarifying needs: applying decision filters, assessing project opportunities, stating problems Investigating solutions: impact and story mapping, collaborative modeling, and acceptance criteria definition Kent J. McDonald uncovers better ways of delivering value. His experience includes work in business analysis, strategic planning, project management, and product development in the financial services, health insurance, performance marketing, human services, nonprofit, and automotive industries. He has a BS in industrial engineering from Iowa State University and an MBA from Kent State University. He is coauthor of Stand Back and Deliver: Accelerating Business Agility (Addison-Wesley, 2009).

Table of Contents:
Preface xv Acknowledgments xxv About the Author xxvii   Part I: Ideas 1   Chapter 1: Guiding Principles 3 Introduction 3 Deliver Value 4 Collaborate 5 Iterate 7 Simplify 8 Consider Context 9 Decide Wisely 10 Reflect and Adapt 11 Conclusion 12 If You Remember Nothing Else 12   Chapter 2: Helpful Concepts 15 Introduction 15 Needs and Solutions 15 Outcome and Output 19 Discovery and Delivery 20 If You Remember Nothing Else 23   Chapter 3: Influence of Lean Startup 25 Introduction 25 Customer Development 25 Build-Measure-Learn 29 Metrics 31 If You Remember Nothing Else 38   Chapter 4: Decision Making 39 Introduction 39 A Structure for Decision Making 39 Real Options 46 Cognitive Biases 48 If You Remember Nothing Else 53   Chapter 5: Deliver Value 55 Introduction 55 Feature Injection 55 Minimum Viable Product 63 Minimum Marketable Features 65 If You Remember Nothing Else 67   Chapter 6: Analysis with an Agile Mindset 69 Introduction 69 What Is the Need? 71 What Are Some Possible Solutions? 71 What Should We Do Next? 72 What Are the Details of This Part (i.e., Telling the Story)? 73 If You Remember Nothing Else 73   Part II: Case Studies 75   Chapter 7: Case Study: Conference Submission System 77 Introduction 77 The Need 77 The Possible Solution(s) 78 The Deliveries of Value 79 Lessons Learned 92   Chapter 8: Case Study: Commission System 95 Introduction 95 The Need 96 The Possible Solution(s) 96 The Deliveries of Value 97 Lessons Learned 98   Chapter 9: Case Study: Data Warehouse 101 Introduction 101 The Need 101 The Possible Solution(s) 102 The Deliveries of Value 103 Lessons Learned 110   Chapter 10: Case Study: Student Information System 111 Introduction 111 The Need 111 The Possible Solution(s) 114 Lessons Learned 118   Part III: Techniques 121   Chapter 11: Understanding Stakeholders 123 Introduction 123 Stakeholder Map 124 Commitment Scale 129 User Modeling 133 Persona 138   Chapter 12: Understanding Context 141 Introduction 141 Purpose-Based Alignment Model 142 Six Questions 147 Context Leadership Model 150   Chapter 13: Understanding the Need 159 Introduction 159 Decision Filters 160 Project Opportunity Assessment 163 Problem Statement 167   Chapter 14: Understanding the Solution(s) 171 Introduction 171 Impact Mapping 173 Story Mapping 177 Collaborative Modeling 182 Acceptance Criteria 188 Examples 192   Chapter 15: Organizing and Persisting Solution Information 199 Introduction 199 Discovery Board 200 Definition of Ready 204 Delivery Board 206 Definition of Done 211 System Documentation 213   Part IV: Resources 219   Glossary 221 References 245 Index 249