Software Development Requirement Gathering Questionnaire

Requirement gathering is a critical phase in the software development lifecycle. It involves collecting and defining the needs and expectations of stakeholders to ensure the development team delivers a product that meets or exceeds these expectations. This questionnaire is designed to guide the process of requirement gathering, providing a comprehensive set of questions to ensure that all relevant aspects of the software are addressed.

1. Project Overview

• 1.1 What is the primary purpose of the software?
  Understand the main objectives of the project and the problems it aims to solve.

• 1.2 Who are the primary stakeholders?
  Identify the key individuals or groups who have an interest in the project’s outcome.

• 1.3 What are the expected deliverables?
  Define what the final product should include and any specific features or functionalities.

2. Functional Requirements

• 2.1 What are the core functionalities required?
  List the essential features that the software must have to fulfill its purpose.

• 2.2 Are there any specific user interactions or workflows?
  Describe how users will interact with the software and the typical workflows.

• 2.3 What are the data inputs and outputs?
  Specify the types of data the software will handle and the expected formats for input and output.

• 2.4 Are there any integration requirements?
  Identify other systems or services that the software needs to integrate with.

3. Non-Functional Requirements

• 3.1 What are the performance requirements?
  Define the performance criteria, such as response times and throughput.

• 3.2 What are the security requirements?
  Outline the security measures needed to protect data and ensure user privacy.

• 3.3 What are the usability requirements?
  Describe the desired user experience and any specific usability goals.

• 3.4 What are the scalability requirements?
  Indicate how the software should handle increased load and user growth.

4. Technical Requirements

• 4.1 What are the hardware and software requirements?
  Specify the technical environment needed to run the software.

• 4.2 Are there any constraints or limitations?
  Identify any restrictions that could impact the development process or software capabilities.

• 4.3 What are the development and deployment environments?
  Define the environments in which the software will be developed, tested, and deployed.

5. Project Constraints and Assumptions

• 5.1 What are the budget constraints?
  Outline the financial limitations of the project.

• 5.2 What are the timeline constraints?
  Define the project’s deadlines and key milestones.

• 5.3 What assumptions are being made?
  List any assumptions that could impact the project’s success or requirements.

6. Stakeholder Expectations

• 6.1 What are the expectations of the primary stakeholders?
  Gather detailed information on what stakeholders expect from the software.

• 6.2 Are there any known issues or concerns?
  Identify any potential problems or concerns that stakeholders have.

• 6.3 How will success be measured?
  Define the criteria for determining whether the project has met its goals.

7. Future Considerations

• 7.1 What are the plans for future updates or enhancements?
  Describe any anticipated changes or improvements that may be needed.

• 7.2 How will the software be maintained?
  Outline the strategy for ongoing maintenance and support.

Conclusion

A well-structured requirement gathering process is essential for the success of any software development project. By addressing these questions, development teams can ensure they have a clear understanding of what is needed and can deliver a product that meets or exceeds stakeholder expectations. This questionnaire provides a comprehensive framework for gathering requirements and setting the stage for a successful project.