Why Well-Defined Requirements Are Important?
In the fast-paced world of Agile delivery, one team’s success story stands out as a testament to the importance of well-defined requirements.
A mid-sized financial services company embarked on an IT transformation project to improve their customer portal. Initially, the team struggled with vague user stories and shifting priorities, which led to missed deadlines and frustration among stakeholders.
Recognizing the issue, the team implemented a structured approach to defining requirements. They worked closely with stakeholders to create clear, concise user stories: “As a [user], I want [feature], so that [benefit].” They also established a Definition of Done criteria to ensure stories were actionable before the sprint started.
The results transformed delivery. With better requirements, the team reduced rework by, improved sprint velocity, and delivered features and capability that addressed the user needs. Stakeholders were more engaging and helpful, as they could see tangible progress and provide meaningful feedback during sprint reviews.
This highlights the key to getting it right at the start and have a baseline of well-defined requirements, as the foundation of Agile success. By aligning everyone to what “done” looks like you can get clarity, efficiency, and ultimately value in your delivery.
