Glossaries
Requirements Gathering
What is Requirements Gathering in User Research?
Requirements gathering in user research is the process of collecting, documenting, and analyzing the needs, preferences, and expectations of users for a product or service. It involves various techniques to understand user goals, pain points, and desired features to inform the design and development process.
Synonyms: User needs analysis, User requirements elicitation, Requirements elicitation, User needs assessment
Why Requirements Gathering is Important
Requirements gathering is crucial in user research as it forms the foundation for creating user-centered products and services. By understanding user needs early in the development process, teams can:
- Reduce the risk of building features that users don't want or need
- Prioritize development efforts based on user importance
- Improve user satisfaction and adoption rates
- Save time and resources by avoiding costly redesigns later
How to Conduct Requirements Gathering
- Identify stakeholders: Determine who the users and other relevant parties are.
- Choose research methods: Select appropriate techniques such as interviews, surveys, or focus groups.
- Collect data: Gather information about user needs, goals, and pain points.
- Analyze findings: Look for patterns and prioritize requirements.
- Document requirements: Create clear, actionable specifications for the design and development team.
- Validate: Confirm the gathered requirements with stakeholders and users.
Examples of Requirements Gathering Techniques
- User interviews: One-on-one conversations with users to understand their needs and experiences.
- Surveys: Questionnaires to collect quantitative and qualitative data from a large number of users.
- Contextual inquiry: Observing users in their natural environment to understand how they interact with existing products or processes.
- Focus groups: Group discussions to gather diverse perspectives and generate ideas.
- Card sorting: A method to understand how users categorize and organize information.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What's the difference between functional and non-functional requirements?: Functional requirements describe what the system should do, while non-functional requirements specify how the system should perform (e.g., speed, reliability).
- How often should requirements gathering be done?: It's an ongoing process throughout the product lifecycle, but it's especially crucial at the beginning of a project and before major updates.
- Can requirements gathering be done remotely?: Yes, many techniques can be adapted for remote settings using video conferencing and online collaboration tools.
- How do you prioritize conflicting requirements?: Use techniques like the MoSCoW method (Must have, Should have, Could have, Won't have) or weighted scoring to balance different stakeholder needs.