Custom Automated Test System Requirements Help

I know what I need, but I want help creating a good set of requirements.

Without well written requirements & specs, you’ll likely end up paying more than you want to get something that isn’t what you want, or even worse, something that doesn’t work for you at all.

requirements-specification-template

Requirements and specifications are helpful for several reasons:

  • Quality – if you want to create a system that works
  • Time – if you want to understand when you are ready to release
  • Cost – if you want to get a better sense of how much more you will need to spend before you will have a system that meets the agreed upon goals

Follow this flow diagram to help you make a decision for which path to follow.

requirements-DIY-decision-flow

Path 1: DIY

Approach:

The DIY path is intended for you if you  have the time, patience, and skills to develop a solid set of requirements and specifications for the system that you want built.

Benefits:

  • No money spent, just your time and energy
  • A chance to learn

 

 

 

 

Resources:

Price

  • 0$

Path 2: Requirement Gathering Study

Approach:

We’ll drive the effort, working with you side-by-side, starting from your chicken scratch and bits and pieces of documentation, to work with you to develop a package based on your selected deliverables.

Benefits:

  • A low-risk way to try us out. If you decide not to move forward with us, the documents are yours to take with you.
  • Less unknowns means higher probability of success.
  • Less unknowns also generally means lower cost, because unknowns create surprises, and surprises cost money.
  • Significant re-use for future project phases because much of the up-front effort involves getting on the same page.
  • This process is more interactive so we can help you improve your system by working with you up front instead of just implementing what you dictate.

Deliverables: (optional & scenario-dependent)

  • Requirements Study Report:
    • Elaboration of requirements & spec
    • Highlight risks
    • Make recommendations
  • Functional Overview diagram
  • AoA (Analysis of Alternatives) Report
  • Hardware Selection Report

Price

  • ~$3,000 -$8,000 (typical)