Requirements Validation Skill
Purpose
Ensure that the requirements are correct, complete, consistent, and actually solve the business problem before development begins. "Building the right thing" vs. "Building the thing right".
Verification vs. Validation
- Verification: "Are we building the product right?" (Does the Requirement meet quality standards?)
- Validation: "Are we building the right product?" (Does the Requirement solve the user's need?)
Key Validation Techniques
1. Peer Review / Walkthroughs
- Process: Informal or semi-formal review with colleagues (Devs, other BAs).
- Goal: Find logic errors, ambiguities, and missing edge cases.
- Checklist:
- Is it clear? - Is it testable? - Is it feasible?
2. Stakeholder Inspections / Sign-off
- Process: Formal review with Business Owners.
- Goal: Approval to proceed.
- Method: Don't just read the doc. Walk through scenarios/examples.
3. Prototyping
- Method: Show, don't tell. Use wireframes or mockups.
- Goal: Validate UI/UX requirements. "Is this what you imagined?"
4. Acceptance Criteria Review
- Method: Review "Given-When-Then" scenarios.
- Goal: Ensure the requirement is specific enough to be tested.
Requirements Traceability Matrix (RTM)
Purpose
Link Requirements to their origin and downstream deliverables.
- Forward Traceability: Requirement → Design → Code → Test. (Ensures everything required is built).
- Backward Traceability: Test → Requirement → Business Goal. (Ensures no "Gold Plating" / unnecessary features).
RTM Template
| Req ID | Description | Source (Stakeholder) | Business Goal | Design Doc | Test Case ID | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR-01 | Guest Checkout | Marketing VP | Increase Conv | DD-Checkout | TC-001, 002 | Implemented |
| FR-02 | Apple Pay | CEO | Mobile Strategy | DD-Payment | TC-005 | Approved |
| FR-03 | 3D Secure | Compliance | Legal Reqs | DD-Security | TC-010 | Tested |
Quality Checklist (INVEST)
For User Stories:
- Independent
- Negotiable
- Valuable
- Estimable
- Small
- Testable
Handling Validation Issues
- Ambiguity: "System must be fast."
- *Fix*: "System must load in < 2s."
- Conflict: Stakeholder A wants Blue, B wants Red.
- *Fix*: Facilitate negotiation or escalate to Sponsor.
- Incompleteness: Missing error states.
- *Fix*: Ask "What happens if this fails?"
Output
- Validated Requirements Package: Clean, approved docs.
- Sign-off Artifact: Email or digital signature approving the scope.
- Updated Traceability Matrix.
Tools
- Jira (Linking Stories to Epics/Tests).
- Excel/Lark Base (RTM).
- Confluence/Lark Docs (Approvals).