"Innovation is not about saying yes to everything. It's about saying NO to all but the most crucial features."
– Steve Jobs
I have saved several doomed projects by spending a few days with the client to carefully listen to their needs and set the right expectations. Armed with nothing but a pencil and paper (or their digital equivalents), the process is incredibly simple, but effective. Here are some of the key points to remember while gathering requirements:
- Talk directly to the application owners even if they are not technically minded.
- Make sure you listen to their needs fully and note them.
- Don't use technical jargon such as models. Keep it simple and use end-user friendly terms such as a user profile.
- Set the right expectations. If something is not technically feasible or difficult, make sure you tell them right away.
- Sketch as much...