What features should firms look for when purchasing requirements management tools?
Why are these features important? A: There are a number of features that companies should look for, including: * Systems that support flexible processes as opposed to a rigid approach that forces conformity to a singular way of doing things; * Tools that work the way you already work. If your company works with documents rather than databases, then your RM tools should work this way as well; * Vendor process support that is requirements-driven rather than development-driven; * The ability to look beyond standard evaluation to project how the system will perform when it has to manage large amounts of data; * A user interface can display a lot of data, not just store it in a database; * Ease of use that allows all the information to be displayed in one window, rather than having the user flip from window to window to get the information they need; and * Traceability that supports today’s complex, iterative development and that recognizes that requirements change from one phase to another
