4.8 Exercises

Background: MetroLink, a fictitious city’s transit authority, plans to develop a new transit system to connect the city’s suburbs to the downtown area. They’ve identified the need for a new metro rail line and an improved bus transit system. The project is expected to span 5 years. The project manager developed an action plan to carry out in the initiation and planning stages as follows:

Project Planning and Requirements:

• Surveys in the suburbs should be conducted to understand the transit needs of residents.
• Environmental agencies should be engaged in identifying potential challenges.
• Public forums should be held to collect feedback and suggestions.

Requirements Traceability Matrix:

• The requirements from the surveys should be linked to specific features of the metro rail line and bus system.
• Feedback from the public forums should be mapped to design elements of the stations and bus terminals.
• The team should ensure all requirements are mapped to specific deliverables in the project.

Project Scope Management:

• Clear boundaries should be defined for the project: Which suburbs will be connected, the number of stations, the features in each station, etc.
• The team should ensure all stakeholders understand and agree on the project’s boundaries and deliverables.

Questions:

1. Describe the importance of eliciting requirements in the early stages of the MetroLink project and the methods that can be used.
2. How would a Requirements Traceability Matrix benefit the MetroLink project?
3. Discuss potential challenges in defining the scope of the MetroLink project and how they can be managed.
4. Given the feedback from public forums, how can MetroLink ensure these requirements are incorporated into the project’s deliverables?
5. Considering the broad range of stakeholders (residents, environmental agencies, businesses), how should MetroLink prioritize requirements?

Background: GreenLeaf Park, a once-popular spot in a fictitious city, is being revitalized. The city council has a vision of making it a sustainable, eco-friendly park and needs to plan meticulously.

Business Requirements: These are high-level needs that the organization aims to meet by undertaking the project.

• Enhance the city’s green spaces and promote sustainability.
• Increase tourism and local visits, which can boost the local economy.
• Position the city as an environmental leader in the region.

Stakeholder Requirements: These are the needs and conditions expressed by stakeholders.

• Local communities want safe playgrounds for children.
• Environmentalists are pushing for water conservation features and native plant gardens.
• Local businesses are hoping for spots within the park to set up kiosks or stalls.

Solution Requirements: These are the details of the features and functionalities the project will deliver.

• Functional: Installing solar-powered lights, creating botanical gardens, and setting up eco-friendly water fountains.
• Non-functional: Ensuring the park’s digital app is user-friendly, and guaranteeing park infrastructure is durable, sustainable, and eco-friendly.

Transition Requirements: Details describing capabilities needed to transition from the current state to the desired future state.

• Training for park staff on new digital tools and sustainability practices.
• Public awareness campaigns about new park features and rules.
• Temporary relocation plans for flora and fauna during construction.

Project Planning and Requirements:

• Engage with local communities to understand their needs and desires for the park.
• Collaborate with environmentalists to get insights into sustainable park designs and features.
• Document all requirements meticulously, ensuring clarity and specificity.

Questions:

1. Based on the business requirements, how can the GreenLeaf Park revitalization benefit the larger community and the city’s reputation?
2. Identify and discuss potential stakeholder requirements from local communities, environmentalists, and businesses.
3. How do solution requirements ensure the park’s revitalization aligns with its sustainable, eco-friendly vision?
4. Describe the importance of transition requirements in the GreenLeaf Park project and provide examples.
5. Differentiate between business, stakeholder, solution, and transition requirements using examples from the GreenLeaf Park revitalization project.