PinnedMember-onlyYou Say You Want to Write a Book?It’s an exciting prospect. It’s also a lot of work. Here are some tips for getting started, based on 14 books’ worth of experience. — A seasoned author told me long ago, “It’s an exciting day when you hold the first copy of your first book in your hand.” He was right. It really was a thrill. And it never gets old, no matter how many books I write. I’ve written fourteen books now. Most…Writing11 min readWriting11 min read
Published inAnalyst’s corner·PinnedMember-onlyUse Cases: The Business Analyst’s Best FriendUse cases are a powerful requirements elicitation and analysis tool that have unfortunately fallen out of favor. Use them anyway! — I like use cases. There, I said it, and I’m not sorry. Use cases have fallen out of fashion in recent years, being largely replaced by user stories on agile projects. The two techniques can coexist and complement each other, however. Use cases offer several advantages that user stories lack…Business Analysis10 min readBusiness Analysis10 min read
Published inAnalyst’s corner·PinnedMember-onlyThe Essential Practices for Business Analysis SuccessThese twenty requirements practices can make the difference between happy success and painful struggling. — Every project and product initiative succeeds or fails based on its requirements. You need some requirements even to build that first prototype. Requirements let you answer important questions, including: What are we building? Why are we building it? What will users be able to do with it? Which quality characteristics…Business Analysis6 min readBusiness Analysis6 min read
Published inAnalyst’s corner·PinnedMember-onlySix key themes about software requirementsFor more than 35 years I’ve been learning, applying, and teaching about ways that software teams can improve how they develop and manage their product requirements. I’ve observed six requirements-related themes that pertain to every project, regardless of what you’re building or how you’re executing the project. …Business Analysis3 min readBusiness Analysis3 min read
Published inAnalyst’s corner·PinnedMember-onlyThe 6 Most Important Requirements PracticesThe TL;DR for a 640-page book on software requirements — Authors sometimes make things longer and more complicated than necessary. Some readers might feel that I’ve been guilty of this myself. The third edition of my book Software Requirements, co-authored with Joy Beatty, is about 245,000 words long, nearly 640 pages in a rather small font. …Business Analysis7 min readBusiness Analysis7 min read
Published inCrow’s Feet·1 day agoMember-onlyAshes to Ashes, Dirt to Dirt“You can’t go home again” takes on a literal meaning when your family home of decades is razed to the ground — We were an Air Force family. Technically, only my father was in the Air Force, but military service encompasses the entire family. I was born at an air base in Japan, picked up a brother at a base in California, and then acquired a sister at a third base, in…Home5 min readHome5 min read
2 days agoMember-onlyThe Thieves Are Out There: Protect Your Intellectual PropertyAs a writer, trainer, educator, speaker, consultant, or entertainer, you create valuable intellectual property. You must protect your IP against inappropriate usage, as it’s part of how you build your reputation and earn your living. Most people are sensible, honest, and fair when it comes to these matters. …Writing7 min readWriting7 min read
Mar 10, 2024Member-onlyKarl’s Tips for Confident Public SpeakingPublic speaking can be scary. These 17 tips will reduce the fear. You might even come to enjoy the experience. — I remember giving my first presentation, just five minutes long, when I was sixteen years old. I was very nervous, standing there in front of the microphone. Speaking in public ranks high on the list of the top fears for most people. The anxiety is understandable. Everyone is staring at…Public Speaking10 min readPublic Speaking10 min read
Mar 5, 2024Member-onlyReviewing Your Writing: Four Eyes Are Better Than TwoNo matter how talented or experienced a writer you are, critical input from sharp-eyed reviewers will improve your work. — One of the most powerful tools to help you write better is peer review. I cannot overstate the value of having selected individuals carefully critique what you write before you release it to the world or submit it to a publisher. Preparing a high-quality article or book includes these four…Writing9 min readWriting9 min read
Published inAnalyst’s corner·Mar 4, 2024Member-onlyHow Does Your Team Make Decisions?Every decision-making group should first decide how they will arrive at their conclusions by selecting an appropriate decision rule. — I recently was a member of a team of nine people addressing a particular technical topic. The participants were all well-known and highly respected members of their professional community. Over multiple online meetings and dozens of emails spanning several weeks, the group had considerable difficulty reaching closure on several issues…Teams And Teamwork6 min readTeams And Teamwork6 min read