A Structured Approach for Prioritizing and Classifying Product Requirements
ABSTRACT
JACKSON, HAROLD VAUGHN JR. A Structured Approach for Classifying and
Prioritizing Product Requirements. (Under the Direction of Dr. William A. Smith Jr. and
Dr. Wilbur L. Meier Jr.)
New product development involves making a series of decisions that transform vaguely defined customer needs and desires into a final product. Two important, but often overlooked, product development decisions are (1) the classification of requirements as mandatory or optional, and (2) the prioritization of requirements. This research effort addresses the current lack of theoretically sound and practical methods for classifying and prioritizing product requirements by focusing on three primary objectives. The first objective is to develop a structured approach for classifying and prioritizing product requirements. The second objective is to use the structured approach to gather, analyze, and aggregate stakeholder input. The third objective is to use the structured approach to support both group and individual learning.
The first objective was accomplished through the development and demonstration of a structured requirement analysis model (SRAM). SRAM’s development involved integrating methods and concepts from the following knowledge domains: requirement analysis, Multi-Attribute Decision-Making (MADM), market orientation, organizational learning, and cognitive decision theory. The second and third objectives were accomplished through the implementation of SRAM to resolve two diverse case studies.
The main case study involved classifying and prioritizing functional requirements for a proposed knowledge–based CAD engineering system. In contrast, the second case study was focused on evaluating alternative vision statements for a consulting group. After successful completion of both case studies, SRAM was formally evaluated by case study participants and a controlled group that did not participate in either case study. Thus, the three primary
JACKSON, HAROLD VAUGHN JR. A Structured Approach for Classifying and
Prioritizing Product Requirements. (Under the Direction of Dr. William A. Smith Jr. and
Dr. Wilbur L. Meier Jr.)
New product development involves making a series of decisions that transform vaguely defined customer needs and desires into a final product. Two important, but often overlooked, product development decisions are (1) the classification of requirements as mandatory or optional, and (2) the prioritization of requirements. This research effort addresses the current lack of theoretically sound and practical methods for classifying and prioritizing product requirements by focusing on three primary objectives. The first objective is to develop a structured approach for classifying and prioritizing product requirements. The second objective is to use the structured approach to gather, analyze, and aggregate stakeholder input. The third objective is to use the structured approach to support both group and individual learning.
The first objective was accomplished through the development and demonstration of a structured requirement analysis model (SRAM). SRAM’s development involved integrating methods and concepts from the following knowledge domains: requirement analysis, Multi-Attribute Decision-Making (MADM), market orientation, organizational learning, and cognitive decision theory. The second and third objectives were accomplished through the implementation of SRAM to resolve two diverse case studies.
The main case study involved classifying and prioritizing functional requirements for a proposed knowledge–based CAD engineering system. In contrast, the second case study was focused on evaluating alternative vision statements for a consulting group. After successful completion of both case studies, SRAM was formally evaluated by case study participants and a controlled group that did not participate in either case study. Thus, the three primary
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