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Beyond Functionality: The Critical Role of Non-Functional Requirements
Key Takeaways
Non-functional requirements (NFRs) are essential for ensuring a solution’s performance, quality, and overall success. Ignoring them can lead to poor customer experiences, increased costs, and even legal risks, as demonstrated by the article's subway system example, where overlooked NFRs caused delays, safety concerns, and dissatisfaction.
- Why NFRs matter: They act as constraints on solution design, ensuring reliability, safety, scalability, and other critical attributes; without them, solutions may fail to meet customer expectations or organizational goals
- When to address NFRs: NFRs should be considered throughout the business analysis lifecycle—from planning and elicitation to design and solution evaluation—to avoid costly fixes later
- Techniques to manage NFRs: Methods like backlog management, brainstorming, interviews, and modelling help capture, prioritize, and analyze NFRs effectively
Properly addressing NFRs ensures high-quality solutions that meet user needs, reduce risks, and deliver better outcomes for both customers and organizations.
Overlooking NFRs led to a subway system’s downfall, causing daily delays, safety concerns, and a flood of customer complaints.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect the perspectives of IIBA.
Non-functional requirements (NFRs) are critical aspects of any solution design, as they describe the performance or quality attributes the solution must meet. Without proper consideration of NFRs, solutions may not meet customer expectations, leading to constraints in the design of the entire system. It is important to consider NFRs throughout the business analysis lifecycle to ensure that the solution meets customer needs and avoids liability for the organization.
This article provides an example of how a lack of consideration of NFRs resulted in a subway system not meeting customer expectations. It defines NFRs, explains why they are important, and identifies techniques for considering them during business analysis.
