How the requirements management process works

What is requirements management?

Definition and objective

Requirement management is the structured process of collecting, documenting, validating, and managing requirements for a system or product. The goal is to identify the needs of all stakeholders at an early stage, implement them correctly, and document them transparently. (You can read all the facts about the basics in the Requirements Engineering basics blog).

Significance in software projects

In IT projects, requirements management is a key success factor. Unclear or incomplete requirements are among the most common reasons for delays or project failure. A well-organized process helps to avoid misunderstandings and develop high-quality software.

The phases of requirements management

1. Requirements gathering

Information is systematically collected – for example, through interviews, workshops, or observations. The goal is to achieve a common understanding of the system requirements.

2. Documentation

All requirements are recorded consistently and comprehensibly, for example in a requirements specification or using tools such as Jira or Jama.

3. Validation and negotiation

Requirements are reviewed, prioritized, and renegotiated with stakeholders as necessary. This prevents misunderstandings or misdevelopments later on.

4. Administration and maintenance

Structured change management ensures that changes are documented, communicated, and versioned.

Methods in requirements management

Interviews, workshops, scenarios

These classic methods help to develop requirements together with stakeholders. Workshops promote consensus, interviews provide depth.

Use cases, personas, story cards

Use cases illustrate application scenarios, personas make target groups tangible, and story cards structure requirements in an agile context.

Tools for effective requirements management

Comparison of common tools

Tools such as Jira, Jama Connect, and IBM DOORS support the collection, tracking, and documentation of requirements. They also offer interfaces to test and project management solutions.

Selection criteria

Important criteria when selecting a tool include scalability, user-friendliness, integration into existing tool chains, and functions for change management and collaboration.

IREB standard as a guide

Rolle des CPRE

The Certified Professional for Requirements Engineering (CPRE) certificate from IREB is an internationally recognized standard that teaches proven methods of requirements engineering. For many professionals, this certification is an important part of their professional training.

Standardisierte Vorgehensweisen

The CPRE framework brings structure and clarity to the process. It increases the quality and comparability of requirements in projects. You can read about further advantages here.

Conclusion: Manage requirements professionally

Effective requirements management is the foundation of successful IT projects. Methods such as use cases and workshops—supported by appropriate tools and standards such as IREB—ensure transparency and quality. Companies benefit from building up requirements engineering in a targeted manner and strengthening it through further training.
If you would like to participate in the training course including the certificate exam, you can find upcoming training dates on the IREB training pages.