Systems Engineering with the Right Requirements: An Approach for Assessing User Needs

This paper presents a methodology for assessing diverse user requirements in a rapidly changing technological environment. The purpose is to provide a more accurate assessment of user needs at the first point of entry for the customer into the systems engineering process. Applying a customer/provider orientation to the traditional user/developer environment, a product oriented approach is adopted to link the process to a Total Quality Management (TQM) philosophy. The approach is designed to elicit user needs directly from interested parties and using the analysis process described, map the user needs to a set of prioritized common functional requirements. The methodology has been applied within a publicly funded research and development institution in an information technology context and has received broad organizational support and positive feedback. The approach is illustrated with a case study from the information technology arena.