Appearance

Change Control Tools ​

Change Control Tools are used to manage and track changes to project requirements, designs, or deliverables. They ensure that changes are documented, evaluated, approved, and implemented consistently, minimizing project disruptions.

Configuration Management System (CMS) ​

Configuration Management System (CMS) is a set of processes and tools that manage and control the versions of project artifacts, ensuring that all elements are consistent and aligned.

Version Control System (VCS) ​

Version Control System (VCS) is a software system that helps to manage changes to source code, documents, or other collections of information, often used in tandem with a CMS.

Elicitation Techniques ​

Brainstorming ​

Brainstorming is an ideation technique involving a group of people who try to find a solution for a specific problem by gathering a list of spontaneously contributed ideas.

Collaborative Games ​

Collaborative games serve as elicitation techniques designed to encourage teamwork, stimulate creativity, and foster innovation. These games are used to achieve specific goals, such as problem identification, solution generation, decision making, and team building. The nature of the games encourages active participation, making them particularly effective in environments where team engagement is essential.

Product Box ​

The Product Box is a facilitation technique used primarily to envision and describe features or attributes of a product in a creative and collaborative manner. Stakeholders construct a "box" using materials like cardboard or paper, capturing key selling points, features, and benefits they envision for the product.

Speedboat ​

Speedboat is a visual metaphor used in a group setting to identify what is slowing down a project or team, akin to anchors dragging a speedboat. Participants place metaphorical "anchors" on a board to symbolize challenges or impediments, facilitating discussions about solving these issues.

Spider Web ​

The Spider Web technique is a form of radial diagram used to represent relationships or interdependencies among various aspects of a project or system. It can be useful for understanding how different dimensions of a product or project relate to each other, and for making balanced decisions.

Document Analysis ​

Document Analysis is the review of existing documentation, policies, and artifacts to gather requirements or understand the current state of the project or system.

Facilitated Workshops ​

Facilitated Workshops are structured sessions that bring stakeholders together to define requirements, solve problems, or make decisions, usually led by a trained facilitator.

Focus Groups ​

Focus Groups are meetings with stakeholders to collect qualitative data about user needs, preferences, and attitudes through open-ended discussions.

Interviews ​

Interviews are one-on-one or group sessions that involve questioning stakeholders to elicit information, often used to clarify requirements or gather additional details.

Observation ​

Observation is the technique of viewing and analyzing stakeholder activities and environment to understand a process, identify requirements, or determine problem areas.

Prototyping ​

Prototyping is an elicitation technique that allows for early feedback on requirements by creating a tangible model or proof of concept (PoC) of the expected solution. Unlike traditional methods that rely on abstract representations of requirements, prototyping offers stakeholders a more concrete, visual way to understand and interact with a proposed solution. This hands-on approach provides a valuable means to validate whether the conceptual solution aligns well with the existing set of requirements and helps to identify any potential gaps.

Prototyping embraces the idea of progressive elaboration, involving iterative cycles of creating mockups, allowing user interaction, gathering feedback, and then refining the prototype. The prototype can be anything from a simple architectural model to an early version of the product itself. Through this iterative process, requirements can be refined and more closely aligned with stakeholder expectations and needs.

Evolutionary Prototyping ​

Evolutionary Prototyping is a technique where a model of the system is built and refined iteratively based on stakeholder feedback, until it evolves into the final product.

Storyboarding ​

Storyboarding involves creating a series of illustrations or images displayed in sequence to pre-visualize a solution or to illustrate a process flow. It is often used to flesh out user stories, describe user journeys, or define scenarios for system interactions.

Wireframes ​

Wireframes are low-fidelity, simplified outlines or schematics of what a software screen will look like. They help to convey the structure, layout, and information architecture of the software, providing a visual guide for stakeholders and developers.

Questionnaires And Surveys ​

Questionnaires and Surveys are data collection tools that use written questions to gather information from a large group of stakeholders. They can be delivered in multiple formats, including digital and paper forms, and are useful for gathering quantitative data.

Estimation Techniques ​

Affinity Estimating ​

Affinity Estimating is a technique that involves sorting a large number of items (like requirements or user stories) into groups based on their similarity or affinity. It's often used for initial estimation sessions to create rough categorizations for complexity or size.

Bottom-Up Estimating ​

Bottom-Up Estimating involves breaking down the project work into smaller components, estimating each, and then aggregating these to get a total estimate. It is often more accurate but requires detailed information and can be time-consuming.

Delphi ​

The Delphi Technique is a consensus-building method that uses a panel of experts who anonymously answer questionnaires. After each round, aggregated responses are shared, and experts can revise their answers in subsequent rounds until consensus is reached.

Estimation Poker ​

Estimation Poker is a gamified technique for estimating, commonly used in Agile settings. Team members use specially numbered cards to vote for their estimates of how complex a user story is, followed by discussion and re-voting until consensus is achieved.

Relative Estimation ​

Relative Estimation involves comparing different items (like tasks, user stories, or features) to each other in terms of size, complexity, or duration. This is faster than absolute estimation and is often used in Agile methodologies like Scrum.

Wide-Band Delphi ​

Wide-Band Delphi is an extension of the Delphi Technique that involves more interactive communication among experts, often facilitated through meetings. It aims to achieve a more accurate and reliable consensus through rounds of discussion and re-estimation.

Group Decision-Making Techniques ​

Delphi ​

The Delphi Technique is a consensus-building method that uses a panel of experts who anonymously answer questionnaires. After each round, aggregated responses are shared, and experts can revise their answers in subsequent rounds until consensus is reached.

Force Field Analysis ​

Force Field Analysis is a decision-making technique that identifies and assesses the various forces that either support or oppose a particular change initiative. The technique involves listing driving and restraining forces, and then scoring them to decide whether or not a change should be implemented.

Modeling Elaboration ​

CRUD Matrix ​

CRUD Matrix (Create, Read, Update, Delete) is used to identify and map the interactions between different data elements and system functionalities. It helps in ensuring that all necessary operations on each data element have been considered during the system design.

Interaction Matrix ​

The Interaction Matrix is used to show the relationships between different roles, functions, or components within a system. It is a tabular representation that helps to understand how different elements interact or depend on each other.

Traceability Matrix ​

A Traceability Matrix is a document that maps and traces user requirements with test cases. It proves that each requirement is fulfilled by carrying out the corresponding test, aiding in requirements management and validation.

Peer Reviews ​

Inspection ​

Inspection is a formal review process where deliverables are examined in detail by subject matter experts to identify defects, inconsistencies, and non-compliance with established standards. It usually involves a predefined checklist.

Peer Desk Check ​

Peer Desk Check is an informal review process where a peer examines another individual's work product to catch defects early. This method encourages collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Walkthroughs ​

Walkthroughs are a form of peer review where the author leads members of the project team and other stakeholders through a document or a set of documents, and the team provides feedback.

Planning Techniques ​

Product Backlog ​

The Product Backlog is a prioritized list of features, enhancements, bug fixes, and technical tasks that the team needs to work on. It serves as a dynamic repository of work that is to be done, commonly used in Agile methodologies like Scrum.

Rolling Wave Planning ​

Rolling Wave Planning is a form of progressive elaboration where the work to be done in the near term is planned in detail, while work in the future is planned at a higher level. This approach allows for adjustments as more information becomes available.

Story Mapping ​

Story Mapping is an Agile technique used for product planning, specifically for building a Product Backlog. It arranges user stories into a useful model to understand the functionality of the system, identify gaps, and effectively prioritize work.

Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) ​

The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is a hierarchical decomposition of the total scope of work to be carried out by the project team. It defines the detailed scope of work and is used to develop and control the project's scope, time, and cost.

Prioritization Schemes ​

Buy A Feature ​

Buy A Feature is a prioritization technique often used in agile frameworks. In this interactive exercise, stakeholders are given a set budget and are asked to "buy" features or user stories they consider most valuable. This provides a direct way to gauge stakeholder preference and importance of various features.

Delphi ​

The Delphi Technique is a consensus-building method that uses a panel of experts who anonymously answer questionnaires. After each round, aggregated responses are shared, and experts can revise their answers in subsequent rounds until consensus is reached.

Minimum Viable Product (MVP) ​

The Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is a development technique where a new product or website is developed with sufficient features to satisfy early adopters. The final, complete set of features is only designed and developed after considering feedback from the initial users. This is a fundamental concept in agile and lean startup methodologies.

MoSCoW ​

MoSCoW is a prioritization technique used in business analysis and project management. The acronym stands for Must-haves, Should-haves, Could-haves, and Won't-haves. It is used to reach a common understanding with stakeholders on the importance they place on the delivery of each requirement or work package.

Multivoting ​

Multivoting is a decision-making and prioritization technique where each participant has multiple votes that they can allocate among a list of options. This method allows for the collective prioritization of a large number of ideas, reducing them to a manageable set of prioritized issues or options.

Purpose Alignment Model ​

Purpose Alignment Model is a strategic tool used to assess the alignment between initiatives and the larger strategic objectives of the organization. It's often presented as a two-dimensional matrix, helping to visualize and categorize projects or features based on their value proposition and strategic alignment.

Timeboxing ​

Timeboxing is an approach commonly used in agile methodologies where a fixed time period is allocated for an activity. Once the timebox expires, the activity comes to an end, and the team moves on, encouraging focus and productivity within a limited timeframe.

Weighted Ranking ​

Weighted Ranking is a prioritization method that assigns different weights to various criteria. Each option is then scored based on these weighted criteria, providing a more nuanced view of its relative importance or suitability.

Weighted Shortest Job First (WSJF) ​

Weighted Shortest Job First (WSJF) is a prioritization model used in SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework) to determine the sequence of features or epics. It calculates the ratio of the Cost of Delay and job size to prioritize jobs, helping to identify the most valuable items to work on first.

Root Cause and Opportunity Analysis ​

Fishbone/Ishikawa Diagram ​

This diagram, also known as a cause-and-effect diagram, visualizes potential causes of a specific problem or effect. It's structured in a way that categories of potential causes branch out from the main spine, resembling a fishbone.

Five-Whys ​

A root cause analysis method where you ask "why?" five times (or as many times as necessary) to trace back the chain of events leading to a problem. The goal is to identify the fundamental cause and prevent recurrence.

Interrelationship Diagrams ​

These diagrams display how different issues are related to one another. They help in understanding the causal relationships among a set of ideas or issues, providing a visual means to track back root causes.

Stakeholder Maps ​

Onion Diagram ​

A graphical tool that layers components of a system or environment in concentric circles. It helps to understand dependencies, relationships, and hierarchies within a system.

Stakeholder Matrix ​

A visual representation that categorizes stakeholders based on their level of influence and interest in a project. It helps prioritize stakeholder engagement and management strategies.

Ungrouped Tools and Techniques ​

Affinity Diagram ​

A tool used to organize ideas or issues into groups based on their natural relationships or similarities. It's especially useful in brainstorming sessions to categorize and analyze data.

Backlog Management ​

Refers to the process of prioritizing and updating a list of features, enhancements, and bug fixes planned for a product. It's essential in agile methodologies to ensure that the team works on the most valuable items first.

Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) ​

An agile software development process that emphasizes collaboration between developers, QA, and non-technical participants in a software project. It focuses on defining the behavior of a system from the outside perspective.

Benchmarking ​

The process of comparing an organization's processes, products, or services against those of industry leaders or best practices, aiming to identify areas for improvement.

Burndown Charts ​

A graphical representation of the work left to be done versus time in agile projects. It provides a quick view of the project's progress and remaining work.

Business Architecture Techniques ​

A set of methodologies and tools used to map out the structure of an organization, its processes, systems, data, and strategies, aiming to align the organization's operations with its business goals.

Business Capability Analysis ​

A structured process to identify, describe, and evaluate the abilities of an organization to achieve its objectives. It's used to align strategic goals with operational activities.

Business Rules Catalog ​

A comprehensive repository of all the rules and policies that govern business decisions within an organization. It ensures consistency, clarity, and compliance in decision-making processes.

Capability Framework ​

A Capability Framework provides a structured representation of the organizational capabilities, categorizing and organizing them into a hierarchical manner. It acts as a blueprint to understand what an organization can do, aligning its capabilities with strategic objectives.

Capability Table ​

A Capability Table is a tabular representation of an organization's capabilities, detailing each capability's description, its ownership, associated processes, and supporting technology. It provides a consolidated view of the capabilities across the organization.

Competitive Analysis ​

Competitive Analysis involves evaluating an organization's competitors to understand their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. It provides insights into market positioning, potential opportunities, and strategies to gain a competitive advantage.

Context Diagram ​

A Context Diagram is a high-level visualization representing the interaction between a system and its external entities. It shows how information flows between the system and its environment, giving a bird's eye view of system boundaries.

Cost-Benefit Analysis ​

Cost-Benefit Analysis evaluates the potential costs and benefits of a project or initiative. It helps stakeholders make informed decisions by comparing the expected benefits to the associated costs, assessing the return on investment.

Data Dictionary ​

A Data Dictionary is a repository containing detailed definitions and descriptions of data elements, their attributes, and interrelationships. It ensures consistent data usage across the organization and helps maintain data integrity.

Data Flow Diagram ​

A Data Flow Diagram (DFD) visually represents how data moves within a system, detailing the sources, processes, storage elements, and destinations of data. It highlights data flow paths and provides a clear understanding of system functionality.

Decision Tree And Decision Table ​

Decision Trees and Decision Tables are tools used for decision-making. While Decision Trees visualize choices and their potential outcomes in a tree-like graph, Decision Tables present conditions and their corresponding actions in a tabular format.

Decomposition Model ​

A Decomposition Model breaks down complex entities or processes into smaller, more manageable components. It provides a structured representation of a system or process, helping stakeholders understand its intricacies.

Definition Of Done (DoD) ​

Definition of Done (DoD) is a set of agreed-upon criteria that a product or feature must meet before it's considered complete. It ensures that deliverables are consistently of high quality and meet stakeholder expectations.

Definition Of Ready ​

Definition of Ready outlines the criteria that a requirement or user story must meet before it can be taken up for implementation. It ensures that requirements are clear, feasible, and actionable.

Display-Action-Response Model ​

The Display-Action-Response Model describes the interaction between a user and a system. It outlines the system's display (what the user sees), the user's action (input or command), and the system's response to that action.

Display-Action-Response Model represents the user interface elements, user actions, and system responses in a system or application.

Ecosystem Map ​

An Ecosystem Map provides a visual representation of the various entities within a business ecosystem, showcasing their interdependencies and interactions. It helps in understanding the broader business environment, stakeholders, and potential impact points.

Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD) ​

An Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD) is a graphical representation of the logical structure of a database. It depicts entities, attributes, and the relationships between them, aiding in database design and ensuring data integrity.

Event List ​

An Event List is a catalog of triggers or occurrences within a system that result in specific outcomes or actions. This list aids in system design by understanding the various events and their respective reactions.

Feature Injection ​

Feature Injection is a process wherein new functionalities or features are added to a product based on business value, user needs, and feedback. It focuses on ensuring that the most valuable features are developed and delivered first.

Feature Model ​

A Feature Model is a graphical representation that showcases the features of a product and their interrelationships. It assists in understanding product complexities and decision-making during product development.

Gap Analysis ​

Gap Analysis involves comparing the current state with the desired future state to identify disparities. It's instrumental in determining what steps are required to achieve desired business outcomes or system functionalities.

Glossary ​

A Glossary is a collection of terms, definitions, and acronyms related to a specific domain or project. It ensures consistent understanding and communication among stakeholders.

Goal Model And Business Objectives Model ​

The Goal Model And Business Objectives Model visually depict the business goals, objectives, and the strategies to achieve them. They help in aligning business strategies with tactical initiatives.

Impact Analysis ​

Impact Analysis assesses the potential consequences of a change in the system or business process. It aids decision-makers in understanding the ripple effects of a proposed alteration.

INVEST ​

INVEST stands for Independent, Negotiable, Valuable, Estimable, Small, and Testable. It's a set of criteria used for defining well-formed product backlog items or user stories in agile methodologies.

Iteration Planning ​

Iteration Planning is an event in agile methodologies where the team plans the work for the upcoming sprint or iteration, ensuring the most valuable items are addressed first and aligning them with the team's capacity.

Job Analysis ​

Job Analysis is a systematic exploration of tasks, responsibilities, and qualifications required for a specific job role. It aids in recruitment, training, and performance assessment.

Kanban Board ​

A Kanban Board is a visualization tool representing tasks or items as cards, moving through different columns or stages. It facilitates workflow management and highlights potential bottlenecks.

Kano Analysis ​

Kano Analysis is a technique to prioritize features based on customer preferences and perceived value. Features are categorized as Basic, Performance, or Delighters to guide product development.

Market Analysis ​

Market Analysis evaluates the attractiveness and dynamics of a particular market. It aids in understanding market trends, competition, and potential opportunities or threats.

Organizational Chart ​

An Organizational Chart showcases the hierarchical structure of an organization, illustrating roles, responsibilities, and relationships among different departments or individuals.

Pareto Diagrams ​

Pareto Diagrams, often referred to as the 80/20 rule, are bar charts that rank factors or causes by their overall influence or impact. They highlight the most significant factors in a data set and are commonly used in quality control to identify most frequent sources of defects.

Persona Analysis ​

Persona Analysis involves creating fictional characters to represent different user types that might interact with a product. These profiles, or "personas", are used to predict how potential users of a system will behave, guiding decisions about product design and functionality.

Process Flows ​

Process Flows are visual representations of the steps or activities in a process, illustrating how they connect and the order in which they occur. They help stakeholders understand the process and identify potential improvements.

Product Portfolio Matrix ​

Product Portfolio Matrix, also known as the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) matrix, classifies products based on their market growth rate and market share. The matrix helps organizations make strategic decisions about where to invest resources.

Product Visioning ​

Product Visioning involves defining a clear, long-term vision for a product, often used to guide the direction and decision-making for product development. It's the overarching goal or aspiration that the product aims to achieve.

RACI Model ​

RACI Model stands for Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed. It's a matrix used to clarify roles and responsibilities in processes or projects, ensuring that every task has an identified role attached to it.

Real Options ​

Real Options is a decision-making tool that considers multiple possible futures and the flexibility to change course as situations evolve. It's rooted in financial theory but is applied to various business decisions, especially in uncertain environments.

Report Table ​

Report Table presents data or information in rows and columns format, offering a structured view of data. Tables help in comparing, analyzing, and understanding data effectively.

Requirements Management Tool ​

Requirements Management Tools are software applications or platforms used to collect, document, track, and manage requirements throughout a project. They provide traceability, versioning, and collaboration capabilities.

Retrospectives And Lessons Learned ​

Retrospectives and Lessons Learned sessions are reflective meetings held after project milestones or at project completion. They aim to identify what went well, what could be improved, and how to implement those improvements in future projects.

Risk Register ​

Risk Register is a documented list of identified risks, their impacts, probabilities, and strategies to manage them. It's used throughout a project to track, assess, and respond to risks.

Solution Capability Matrix ​

Solution Capability Matrix is a table that lists the capabilities or features of different solution options side by side. It helps stakeholders compare and evaluate solutions based on their capabilities and fit for the business needs.

Of course, here are more detailed descriptions for each:

State Table And State Diagram ​

State Table and State Diagram are tools used to display and analyze the different states an entity can be in and how it transitions from one state to another. The table provides a tabular representation, while the diagram offers a visual one.

Story Elaboration ​

Story Elaboration involves expanding on a user story to provide more details, ensuring the requirements are clear, and the story is implementable.

Story Slicing ​

Story Slicing is the process of breaking down a user story into smaller, more manageable pieces, ensuring that each slice provides value and can be developed within a single iteration.

SWOT Analysis ​

SWOT Analysis evaluates a company's Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. It's a strategic tool used for understanding internal and external factors impacting an organization or initiative.

System Interface Table ​

System Interface Tables document the interactions between different systems, specifying data exchanged, formats, and communication protocols.

Use Case ​

A Use Case describes a series of interactions between a user and a system, providing a step-by-step process to achieve a specific goal or function.

Use Case Diagram ​

Use Case Diagram is a visual representation of different use cases and how they relate to users and other use cases. It shows the relationships between actors and use cases within a system.

User Interface Flow ​

User Interface Flow shows the sequence of user interfaces a user interacts with when accomplishing a task in a software application. It helps designers visualize the user experience.

User Story ​

A User Story is a brief statement of a feature or functionality described from a user's perspective. It's often used in agile methodologies to capture requirements.

Variance Analysis ​

Variance Analysis evaluates the difference between planned and actual performance. It's used to understand why there are variations and how to address them.

Vendor Assessment ​

Vendor Assessment involves evaluating potential vendors or suppliers to ensure they can meet the needs of a project or organization.

Valuation Techniques ​

Internal Rate Of Return (IRR) ​

IRR is a financial metric used to estimate the profitability of potential investments. It's the discount rate that makes the net present value of cash flows equal to zero.

Net Present Value (NPV) ​

NPV evaluates the profitability of an investment by discounting future cash flows to present value and subtracting the initial investment.

Payback Period (PBP) ​

PBP is the time it takes for an investment to generate enough cash flows to recover its initial cost. It's a measure of how quickly an investment will pay back its initial outlay.

Return On Investment (ROI) ​

ROI is a performance measure used to evaluate the efficiency or profitability of an investment. It's calculated as the net profit from the investment divided by its cost.

my thoughts are neither my employer's nor my wife's