📘 Topic: Determining Customer’s Requirements

Subject: Information Technology Infrastructure

---

1. 📌 Introduction

Before designing any IT system or infrastructure, it is essential to understand what the customer actually needs. Failure to do so can lead to system failure, wasted cost, and dissatisfaction.

---

2. ✅ Definition

Determining Customer Requirements is the process of identifying, analyzing, and documenting the needs and expectations of users or clients for an IT system or service.

👉 Simple idea: It means understanding what the customer wants before building the system.

---

3. 🎯 Objectives

• Ensure the system meets business needs
• Avoid unnecessary features
• Improve customer satisfaction
• Reduce development and maintenance cost

---

4. 🧩 Types of Customer Requirements

🔑 1. Functional Requirements

• What the system should do

📊 Examples:

• User login system
• Payment processing

---

🔑 2. Non-Functional Requirements

• How the system should perform

📊 Examples:

• Speed (response time)
• Security
• Availability

---

🔑 3. Business Requirements

• High-level goals of the organization

📊 Example:

• Increase online sales

---

🔑 4. Technical Requirements

• Technology-related needs

📊 Example:

• Use of cloud computing

---

🔑 5. User Requirements

• Needs of end users

📊 Example:

• Easy-to-use interface

---

5. 🔄 Process of Determining Requirements

📊 Step-by-Step Process

🔹 1. Requirement Gathering

• Collect information from stakeholders

---

🔹 2. Requirement Analysis

• Study and refine requirements

---

🔹 3. Requirement Documentation

• Write clear and structured requirements

---

🔹 4. Requirement Validation

• Confirm requirements with customer

---

🔹 5. Requirement Management

• Handle changes over time

---

6. 🛠️ Techniques for Gathering Requirements

🔧 1. Interviews

• Direct discussion with customers

---

🔧 2. Questionnaires/Surveys

• Collect data from many users

---

🔧 3. Observation

• Study how users work

---

🔧 4. Workshops

• Group discussions

---

🔧 5. Prototyping

• Build a sample system for feedback

---

🔧 6. Document Analysis

• Study existing systems/documents

---

7. ⚠️ Challenges in Determining Requirements

🔧 1. Unclear Requirements

• Customers may not know what they want

---

🔧 2. Changing Requirements

• Needs change over time

---

🔧 3. Communication Gap

• Misunderstanding between IT and customers

---

🔧 4. Conflicting Requirements

• Different stakeholders want different things

---

🔧 5. Technical Limitations

• Some requirements may not be feasible

---

8. 📊 Key Rules / Best Practices

• ✔ Use simple and clear language
• ✔ Involve stakeholders continuously
• ✔ Validate requirements regularly
• ✔ Prioritize requirements
• ✔ Document everything properly

---

9. 🧠 Real-Life Example

A company wants an online shopping system:

👉 Requirements:

• Functional: Add to cart, checkout
• Non-functional: Fast loading, secure payment

👉 If requirements are unclear:

• System may fail or not meet expectations

---

10. 📊 Diagram Description (For Exams)

🖼️ Requirement Process Diagram

Draw:

Gathering → Analysis → Documentation → Validation → Management

---

11. 📌 Important Points for Revision

• Requirements = foundation of system design

• Types:

  • Functional
  • Non-functional
  • Business

• Process:

  • Gather → Analyze → Validate

---

12. 📝 Likely Exam Questions

⭐ Short Questions:

1. Define customer requirements.
2. What are functional requirements?
3. What are non-functional requirements?
4. What is requirement validation?
5. List requirement gathering techniques.

---

⭐ Long Questions:

6. Explain the process of determining customer requirements.
7. Discuss types of customer requirements with examples.
8. What challenges are faced in requirement determination?
9. Explain techniques for requirement gathering.
10. Why is requirement analysis important?

---

13. 📌 Quick Summary / Conclusion

• Determining customer requirements is the first and most important step in IT system design.

• It ensures:

  • ✔ Correct system development
  • ✔ Customer satisfaction
  • ✔ Cost efficiency

👉 Final Idea: A well-understood requirement leads to a successful and effective IT system.

---

✅ Exam Tip: Always include:

• Types of requirements
• Process steps
• Examples for better marks.