The Importance of Requirements in Software Development

Good requirements management and clearly captured requirements form the foundation of a successful software project. Clear priorities enable project teams to work together and avoid goal conflicts. Combined with precise formulations, uncertainties can be prevented and risks reduced. The real skill lies not only in setting a requirement up for success but in understanding its journey, guiding it through the entire development process, and knowing when to follow up. This coin has two sides: the audience-appropriate preparation on the sender’s side and the adaptation, inquiry, and proper implementation on the receiver’s side. Through effective cooperation, added value can be created that genuinely helps the stakeholders.

What to Expect?

In the module “REQ4ARC – Requirements for Software Architects,” you will receive hands-on training in identifying, prioritizing, and documenting architecture-relevant requirements. You will learn to collaborate effectively with stakeholders and apply iterative approaches in requirements engineering. The goal is to make informed decisions for sustainable software architectures.

Participant Requirements

➤ You should have basic knowledge in software architecture, as taught in CPSA-F.
➤ Initial practical experience in software architecture development and collaboration with stakeholders is required.
➤ Knowledge of different types of requirements (functional and quality requirements) is helpful.
➤ Experience with iterative development processes and agile methods will facilitate the learning process.
➤ A basic understanding of documentation techniques and tools for requirements engineering is advantageous.

Technical Requirements

There are no specific requirements for the training environment, as the exercises will be conducted using cloud- and web-based tools like Miro, Draw.io, and platforms such as Jupyter or HuggingFace. Only a stable and sufficiently fast internet connection is required.

Your Added Value

➤ You will learn how to specifically identify architecture-relevant requirements and apply iterative approaches to requirements gathering.
➤ You will gain knowledge on differentiating between functional requirements, quality requirements, and constraints, as well as how to prioritize them.
➤ You will understand how to effectively document requirements and trace them back to architecture documentation.
➤ You will deepen your knowledge of collaborating with stakeholders to manage diverse requirements and goal conflicts.
➤ You will gain practical insights into methods like Behavior-Driven Development and using scenarios for specification.
➤ You will learn how to select and effectively use appropriate tools for requirements engineering.

Training Content

✔️ Content of the “Requirements for Software Architects” (REQ4ARC) Module
➤ Fundamentals of requirements engineering and architecture-relevant decisions.
✔️ Clean Start
➤ Definition of vision, goals, and stakeholders.
✔️ Functional Requirements
➤ Structuring, documentation, and refinement.
✔️ Quality Requirements & Constraints
➤ Identification, categorization, and acceptance criteria.
✔️ Behavior-Driven Development
➤ Introduction to BDD and use of scenarios.
✔️ Prioritization & Estimation
➤ Evaluation based on business value and technical effort.
✔️ Collaboration Between Roles
➤ Integration of architects, developers, and requirements engineers.
✔️ Tools for Requirements Engineering
➤ Overview and selection of suitable tools.
✔️ Practical Examples
➤ Analysis and application of real requirements documents.

Your Benefits at a Glance

➤ Better Architecture Decisions: Well-defined requirements minimize development mistakes.
➤ Efficient Collaboration: Optimized communication between architects and stakeholders.
➤ Higher Software Quality: Clear requirements improve maintainability and user satisfaction.