{"id":39972,"date":"2020-11-03T03:00:50","date_gmt":"2020-11-03T11:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jamasoftware.com\/?p=39966"},"modified":"2023-01-12T16:50:11","modified_gmt":"2023-01-13T00:50:11","slug":"importance-of-centralizing-requirements-in-one-platform","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jamasoftware.com\/blog\/2020\/11\/03\/importance-of-centralizing-requirements-in-one-platform\/","title":{"rendered":"The Importance of Centralizing Your Requirements in One Platform"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Centralizing<\/p>\n

What is the truth?\u201d can sound like an abstract philosophical question with no definitive answer. But for teams developing complex products like medical devices<\/a> and connected cars<\/a>, it\u2019s a much more practical concern \u2013 as in, the truth about the current state of the project\u2019s requirements, risks, and tests is often unclear. This is where centralizing your requirements, test, and risk in one place is key.<\/p>\n

This uncertainty stems mostly from inefficient tools and processes for requirements management, rather than from anything that someone did wrong. More specifically, the widespread reliance on emailed documents and on general-purpose software such as Microsoft Word and Excel limits collaboration and results in miscommunications, silos, and rework.<\/p>\n

The silver lining of this situation is that it\u2019s possible to find the truth, once better tools are in place. A requirements, risk, and test management platform that centralizes everything into one system of record can provide the single source of truth missing from many product development processes.<\/p>\n

The Problem with Having Multiple Versions of the Truth<\/h2>\n

When project activities are spread across different documents and communications channels, it becomes difficult for teams to coordinate their workflows and gather, author, and ultimately move forward with agreed-upon requirements \u2013 i.e., \u201cthe truth.\u201d Instead, multiple disparate versions fill the vacuum, meaning outdated or flawed requirements make it too far into development.<\/p>\n

The annual Project Management Institute (PMI) Pulse of the Profession survey has, over the years, flagged this particular issue as a common impediment to project management success. For example, the 2017 edition found that inaccurate requirements gathering<\/a>, along with poor communication and problems managing frequent changes in priorities, was among the most cited challenges in project management.<\/p>\n

The 2020 edition also highlighted the growing strategic importance of using modern technologies to support complex projects<\/a>. Respondents thought that selecting the right tools and improving organizational agility were the biggest determinants of project success. In other words, relying on manual processes and aging platforms will hold organizations back by making it more challenging to find a single version of the truth and use it to respond to change.<\/p>\n

Looking at these results, it becomes apparent both how multiple versions of the truth can arise and how legacy tools worsen the issue:<\/p>\n