Business Analyst Community & Resources | Modern Analyst

AI Requirements Spec – Starter Template

adrian — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:55:00 GMT

This starter template is a structured, copy/paste-ready “container” for converting workshop answers into a usable requirements package that teams can actually build and test against. It provides clear sections for the most important AI requirements categories: use case and AI role; scope boundaries; users and workflow context; measurable success metrics; inputs and data sources with authoritative “source of truth” rules; access and privacy constraints (least privilege, retention, logging, and training usage); output contract (format, required fields, tone/style); guardrails (refusals, disallowed content/actions, escalation triggers); fallback behavior for low confidence; quality and non-functional requirements (metrics, thresholds, latency); testing and acceptance (golden dataset and sign-offs); monitoring and operations (signals, alerts, incident triggers); and change control (versioning, approvals, rollback, audit trail).

The template is intentionally lightweight: it helps teams document what they know, flag what they don’t know as explicit TBDs, and generate discovery tasks rather than relying on assumptions. BAs can use it as a PRD section, a Confluence page, an epic attachment, or a governance artifact—especially valuable for regulated environments where traceability, accountability, and auditability matter.

AI Requirements Starter Kit – 20 Questions Checklist

adrian — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:51:00 GMT

This checklist is a practical, BA-friendly worksheet designed to turn “Let’s add AI” into a clear, testable set of requirements before anyone commits to building. It contains 20 must-ask questions organized into the exact sequence that prevents common AI project failures: vague use cases, undefined success metrics, unclear data access, inconsistent outputs, missing guardrails, and “we’ll figure out testing later.” Each question includes a short explanation of why it matters, plus the specific output artifact you should capture (for example: a problem statement, a source-of-truth hierarchy, an access matrix, an output contract, refusal rules, escalation triggers, a golden test set, and monitoring thresholds).

The checklist is intentionally written for cross-functional workshops—BAs can run it with product, engineering, data/ML, security, and compliance in a 60–90 minute kickoff and leave with shared clarity. It’s also useful as a readiness gate: if your team cannot answer most of the questions with reasonable confidence, that is a signal to pause and do targeted discovery rather than rushing into a prototype that later creates rework, risk, or stakeholder distrust. Use it as a printable handout, a meeting agenda, or a paste-into-notes checklist.

Requirements-Friendly Data Dictionary Template

adrian — Sun, 07 Dec 2025 23:03:00 GMT

This template is intended to support capturing data requirement details (about Records and Fields) as part of the process of eliciting detailed functional requirements for an Information System.

It was developed in conjunction with the Trips-R-You Web-Based Flight Reservation System Case Study and Requirements In Context series of articles.

The fifth article in that series specifically discusses using this type of data dictionary.

The Trips-R-You Case Study Data Dictionary utilizes this template and includes over 150 example entries.

COTS Information System Detailed Requirements Template

adrian — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 23:43:00 GMT

This spreadsheet-based template is intended to support documenting detailed requirements (DTRs) discussed in the article “What Requirements Are Needed When Implementing a COTS Information System?"

A business analyst is normally expected to document requirements by describing what is needed, avoiding how a solution might satisfy them. But a selected COTS product is an existing solution. A domain-specific information system solution includes user interface (UI), data import, export, report, or automated function capabilities. Additionally, a COTS product’s selection may have been influenced in part by its inclusion of domain-independent capabilities such as configurable workflows or business rules.

A complete set of DTRs identifies which “Out-of-the-Box” (OOTB) capabilities are to be implemented as is, which need changing, which aren’t needed, and which unsupported capabilities need to be added.

The article "What Requirements Are Needed When Selecting a COTS Information System?” discusses capability-specific high-level requirements (HLRs). Those requirements are intended to be of the “What, not How” variety.

Face-to-Face (F2F) and Virtual Meeting Risk Planning - Quick Reference Guide

adrian — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 23:35:00 GMT

This guide assumes that the reader is familiar with risk analysis and facilitation techniques. Note that only negative risk is addressed in this guide. Besides threats, positive risk (opportunities) may be considered by the facilitator.

Trips-R-You Case Study: Requirements for an Automated Function Example

adrian — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 02:52:00 GMT

The purpose of this spreadsheet is to present an example of detailed requirements for an Automated Function (AF). The example is part of the Trips-R-You Flight Booking Case Study. It's purpose is to provide an integrated, end-to-end set of requirement examples.

Trips-R-You Case Study: User Interface Example

adrian — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 00:36:00 GMT

The purpose of this spreadsheet is to present an example of detailed specifications for a screen-based user interface. The example is part of the Trips-R-You Flight Booking Case Study. It's purpose is to provide an integrated, end-to-end set of requirement examples.

The following case study example high-level requirements identify the need for this user interface:

Trips-R-You Case Study: Report Example

adrian — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 00:23:00 GMT

The purpose of this spreadsheet is to present an example of detailed specifications for a report. The example is part of the Trips-R-You Flight Booking Case Study. It's purpose is to provide an integrated, end-to-end set of requirement examples.

The following case study example high-level requirements identify the need for this report:

Trips-R-You Case Study: Data Dictionary

adrian — Sun, 29 Sep 2019 19:26:00 GMT

Section 3 begins by presenting one additional tool - a Data Dictionary. As the detail for a given HLR is discussed, the data-specific business needs involved are captured using this tool. The idea is to add entries about record types and fields (i.e. entities and attributes) the first time their need is discussed (e.g. an HLR for a specific screen or report). Once captured, those data-specific details are available for reference when those needs come up again, as they will, during discussions involving other HLRs. The detail in the data dictionary is shown to support a transition requirement for a new or updated database schema.

Basics of Product and Process Requirements

adrian — Wed, 18 May 2016 06:08:00 GMT

Requirements are fundamental in business analysis and creating enterprise solutions. Due to the important role it plays, requirements and requirements engineering have been continuously emphasized in various business organizations.

Cheat Sheet for BPMN (Business Process Modeling Notation)

host — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 07:06:00 GMT

This BPMN Quick Reference Guide covers the key concepts of the Business Process Modeling Notation in one concise page. The cheat sheet contains a quick reference of the BPMN symbols as well as a comprehensive example.
This is a great handy reference for every business analyst.

Poster: Stages of development for BA Centers of Excellence (COE)

adrian — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 05:14:00 GMT

This attractive high-level PDF infographic of the stages of development for BA Centers of Excellence (BA COE) is intended to help foster conversations among senior staff and executives about BA COEs, enable you to assess your organization’s BA COE maturity, and move your BA COE initiative forward.

Requirements Document Template by ModernAnalyst.com

vneytcheva — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 13:20:00 GMT

Requirements Document - an MS Word template with pre-set fonts, styles, chapter headers and guidelines.

Use Case Specification Template by ModernAnalyst.com

vneytcheva — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 13:04:00 GMT

Use Case Specification - an MS Word template with pre-set fonts, styles, chapter headers and guidelines.

Business Case Template by ModernAnalyst.com

adrian — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:04:00 GMT

Business Case Template - an MS Word template with pre-set fonts, styles, chapter headers and guidelines.

The goal of a business case document is to capture the rationale for starting a project or task.

Agile Extension to the BABOK® Guide - November 2011 Draft for Public Review

adrian — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 06:57:00 GMT

This new release of the Agile Extension offers information on business analysis in agile lifecycles; the mapping of information back to the BABOK® Guide 2.0; descriptions of over 20 new business analysis techniques useful in an agile environment; and key principles regarding agile business analysis.

Visio-based BPMN Model for Mortgage Processing

derweeks — Thu, 26 May 2011 14:01:00 GMT

Improvement of this process at Big Corp began with the manager of the RMA processing team clearly defining the following goals:
»» Average overall processing time not to exceed 7 hour SLA
»» Keep current RMA staffing levels at or below 20 individuals
»» Reduce RMA processing costs by 25%

CBAP Prep -> Matrix of BABOK V2.0 Knowledge Areas & Techniques. Version 2

adrian — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 07:13:00 GMT

This is great matrix/mapping between the BABOK v2.0 Knowledge Areas and the business analysis techniques corresponding to those areas.

CBAP Prep -> BABOK V2.0 Mindmap: Knowledge Areas and Associated Tasks, Inputs and Outputs

adrian — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 03:53:00 GMT

Great CBAP Preparation Resource: Expandable BABOK V2.0 Mindmap including Knowledge Areas and Associated Tasks, Inputs and Outputs

150 Free Questions for CBAP ® & CCBA ® Certifications

adrian — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 05:14:00 GMT

150 Free Questions for helping you pass the CBAP ® & CCBA ® Certifications.

The answers to the 150 CBAP ® & CCBA ® questions are also included.

2010 Business Analyst Salary Survey from ASPE

adrian — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 06:31:00 GMT

More than 4,100 Software/System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) professionals around the world completed the survey in August and September of 2010. This white paper presents the findings from the survey, and compares the findings to results from the 2009 BA Salary Survey, from 2009.

Book: Working through Screens

adrian — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 06:13:00 GMT

Working through Screens is a 143-page reference book for product teams creating new or iteratively improved applications for thinking work... this volume can help business analyst definers and designers to explore innovative new directions for their products.

Idea Cards: Working through Screens

adrian — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 03:00:00 GMT

13 categories of ideas for envisioning powerful, engaging, and productive user experience in knowledge work.

The 100 ideas themselves cover a diverse range of potential application design factors.

Feasibility Study Template by ModernAnalyst.com

adrian — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 22:36:00 GMT

Feasibility Study Template - an MS Word template with pre-set fonts, styles, chapter headers and guidelines.

The goal of a feasibility study document is to identify each of the solution options available and to rate the likelihood of each option to achieve the desired results/value.