Define the Requirements Approach and Project Scope
This module introduces the overall structure of requirements engineering and the factors that influence the approach used on a project.
Learners will:
- Define what a requirement is
- Examine the stages of requirements engineering
- Understand the factors that influence the requirements approach
- Consider how project characteristics affect the selected approach
- Review the typical content of project initiation documentation
This provides the foundation for organising requirements activities effectively from the beginning of a project.
Elicit Requirements
This module examines how requirements are discovered and gathered.
Topics include:
- Different types of knowledge
- Requirements elicitation techniques
- Selecting the most suitable elicitation technique
- Applying techniques in different project environments
- Elicitation within Agile projects
- Elicitation within Linear / Waterfall projects
Participants consider when particular techniques are most appropriate and how context influences their use.
Record Requirements
This module focuses on how requirements should be structured and documented.
Topics include:
- Categories of requirements
- The importance of requirements documentation
- Different documentation approaches
- Requirements catalogue entries
- User stories
- Writing clear and understandable requirements
Participants compare different styles of documenting requirements and consider their suitability for different development approaches.
Build Models and Prototypes to Represent Requirements
This module explores how models and prototypes can support the understanding and validation of requirements.
Topics include:
- Requirements modelling
- The value of UML
- Use Case Diagrams
- Class Diagrams
- Visual representation of requirements
- Prototyping
- Using prototypes to elaborate requirements
- Using prototypes to support requirements validation
Participants learn how visual models can complement written requirements and improve shared understanding.
Collaborate and Communicate with Stakeholders to Clarify Requirements
This module focuses on the people involved in requirements engineering and the importance of effective collaboration.
Topics include:
- Requirements engineering actors
- Roles and responsibilities
- Stakeholder collaboration
- Stakeholder communication
- The purpose of requirements validation
- Validation approaches
- How Agile methodologies influence validation activities
Participants learn how stronger stakeholder engagement can reduce ambiguity and improve the quality of requirements.
Analyse, Prioritise and Assure the Quality of Requirements
This module examines how requirements are evaluated, prioritised, and improved.
Topics include:
- Requirements analysis
- Prioritisation techniques
- Requirements quality
- Quality assurance approaches
- Slicing
- Business rules
- Testability
- Assessing feasibility
- Improving clarity and consistency
Learners consider how to ensure that requirements are not only well written, but also appropriate, achievable, and aligned with business priorities.
Conduct User Analysis and Profiling
This module considers requirements from the user perspective.
Topics include:
- Analysing user roles
- Role-based needs
- Customer Journey Maps
- The relationship between user experience and requirements engineering
- Translating user needs into requirements
Participants explore how different user groups can influence both the content and priority of requirements.
Requirements Management and Traceability
The final module focuses on managing requirements throughout the project lifecycle.
Topics include:
- Requirements traceability
- The purpose of traceability
- Tracking relationships between requirements
- Requirements management
- Key components of requirements management
- Change control
- Managing changes to requirements
- Maintaining requirements throughout the project lifecycle
This module explains how requirements can be traced from their original source through design, development, testing, and delivery.
BCS Certification Preparation
The programme covers the subject areas included within the BCS Practitioner Certificate in Requirements Engineering.
Candidates preparing for the certificate examination are encouraged to:
- Review course content each day
- Practise example examination questions
- Become familiar with the relevant terminology
- Understand the relationships between the stages of the Requirements Engineering Framework
By the end of the course, participants will have a more structured approach to requirements engineering and will be able to apply practical techniques for eliciting, recording, modelling, validating, analysing, prioritising, and managing requirements.
