Forums for the Business Analyst

 
  Modern Analyst Forums  Business and Sy...  Requirements  Requirements for Existing System
Previous Previous
 
Next Next
New Post 2/8/2008 7:12 AM
User is offline anonymous
0 posts
No Ranking


Requirements for Existing System 

I've been tasked to document requirements for an existing system.  Since the system is already in production, they expect no interact with the users.  I'm supposed to learn the system and document accordingly.  Does anyone have any advice to both approach and appropriate documentation practices?

 
New Post 2/8/2008 7:38 PM
User is offline David Wright
141 posts
www.iag.biz
7th Level Poster




Re: Requirements for Existing System 

 anonymous wrote

I've been tasked to document requirements for an existing system.  Since the system is already in production, they expect no interact with the users.  I'm supposed to learn the system and document accordingly.  Does anyone have any advice to both approach and appropriate documentation practices?

Why is this being done? What would the results be used for? My initial thought is that if the system exists already, there is no need for Requirements. Documenting how the system works, if that documentation does not exist, is useful for support purposes, but that would not be requirements. It would also be useful for enhancing the system, but you would create new requirements for the enhancements only.


David Wright
 
New Post 2/9/2008 10:07 PM
User is offline Craig Brown
560 posts
www.betterprojects.net
4th Level Poster




Re: Requirements for Existing System 

 anonymous wrote

I've been tasked to document requirements for an existing system.  Since the system is already in production, they expect no interact with the users.  I'm supposed to learn the system and document accordingly.  Does anyone have any advice to both approach and appropriate documentation practices?

Another question:  Is the scope of the work based purely on system functionality, or is it in the context of business processes?  It goes to David's initial question; What is this work for?

 
New Post 2/11/2008 1:59 PM
User is offline BA1025
1 posts
No Ranking


Re: Requirements for Existing System 

The old system is being replaced in favor of a new ERP that has a module within it that could do the same functions (raising and approving POs).  The current system is a home grown system so it is very customized to how we do business, especially in Europe where our approval hierarchies are quite complex.  Management wanted to document the functionality and business process for the current system.  They wanted to submit that documentation to serve as base requirements for the new system to ensure that major functionality is not lost.

 
New Post 2/11/2008 4:07 PM
User is offline Adrian M.
765 posts
3rd Level Poster




Re: Requirements for Existing System 

It sounds like you were tasked to perform reverse engineering of an existing system.  Take a look at my post in this thread and see if it addresses any of your questions:

http://www.modernanalyst.com/Community/Forums/tabid/76/forumid/-1/threadid/769/scope/posts/threadpage/2/Default.aspx

- Adrian


Adrian Marchis
Business Analyst Community Blog - Post your thoughts!
 
Previous Previous
 
Next Next
  Modern Analyst Forums  Business and Sy...  Requirements  Requirements for Existing System

Community Blog - Latest Posts

In today's ever-evolving market, businesses must adapt swiftly to remain competitive and meet the needs of a fast-paced digital economy. Among the various business strategies available, digital transformation, customer-centricity, and sustainability have emerged as top priorities. Let’s explore why these strategies are critical for busine...
The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification is a pivotal credential for networking professionals, validating your skills in networking fundamentals, security, automation, and programmability. Preparing for the CCNA exam can be challenging, but with the right strategy, resources, and mindset, you can successfully achieve this certific...
The CEO/CIO's Guide to Architecting AI: Vision to Value in Minutes Introduction to Architected AI Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming part of our life at an unprecedented pace. As CEOs and CIOs grapple with how to leverage this powerful technology to drive strategy and enhance operations, the concept of Architected AI becomes importa...

 






 

Copyright 2006-2024 by Modern Analyst Media LLC