Note: Use the Focus on Vital Needs-Simple template if you prefer not to use the dropdown lists for Topic and Sub-topic. It's the same without the Topic and Codependent Sub-topic dropdown lists.
Organize your needs, aka requirements, using this template. Emphasize vital needs—those necessary to the existence, continuance, or well-being of your organization/capability, indispensable, and essential.
Add rows as necessary by selecting one or more empty rows, right-clicking, and Inserting.
Enter the date logged into this worksheet.
Select a topic from the dropdown list. The values for this dropdown are from the Structure Needs worksheet.
Select a sub-topic from the dropdown list. The values for this dropdown are from the Structure Needs worksheet.
The Sub-topic dropdown is dependent on the Topic selected. This cell uses Conditional Formatting to detect mismatches between Topic and Sub-topic values.
• Select a priority (High, Medium, Low) from the dropdown list.
Enter an organization or functional area that submitted this need.
Enter the individual who owns the need, typically someone who represents the source organization.
Enter a short name for this need.
Enter a description for this need. Quantify the impact on your project or business.
State a specific need unambiguously. Use plain language. Keep it simple. Avoid compound expressions and adjectives and stating needs using negative statements. Use NEEDS™ as a guide to create good requirements. NEEDS™ represents: Necessay, Exact, Expressive, Deterministic, and Structure.
List the stakeholder organizations impacted by this need.
Quantify the benefits delivered by this need.
Select a complexity (High, Medium, Low) from the dropdown list.
Select a status (Draft, Approved, Implemented, Deferred, Rejected) from the dropdown list.
Select whether this need is in or out of scope using the dropdown list.
Add comments as appropriate.