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 but without the Topic and Codependent Sub-topic dropdown lists.
Additional Notes:
Organize your needs, aka requirements, using this template. List the most vital needs necessary for the existence, continuance, or well-being of your organization/capability, as well as indispensable and essential needs.
Focus on Vital Needs is in a Table. Excel tables have special properties, such as automatic sorting and filtering capabilities with filter arrows in header rows, the ability to add new rows while maintaining table structure, visible column headers even when scrolling down, and dynamic updates to charts and PivotTables when data within the table changes. These properties essentially treat the table as a single object separate from other cells on the worksheet.
For example, select the dropdown in the Priority column header to filter the table contents, e.g., display high priority needs only.
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.
Refer to Home menu, Data Validation, Data Validation: Allow: List; Source: _Topics.
Select a sub-topic from the dropdown list. The values for this dropdown are from the Structure Needs worksheet.
Refer to Home menu, Data Validation, Data Validation: Allow: List; Source: _Uselist.
The Sub-topic dropdown is dependent on the Topic selected. This cell uses Conditional Formatting to detect mismatches between Topic and Sub-topic values. The Sub-topic text is displayed in red if there's a mismatch, e.g., if you change to a new Topic that doesn't match with the previously selected Sub-topic.
Refer to Home menu, Conditional Formatting, Manage Rules, Edit Rule, Use a formula to determine which cells to format: =ISERROR(VLOOKUP(D6,INDEX('Structure Needs'!$B$10:$M$21,,MATCH(C6,'Structure Needs'!$B$9:$M$9,0)),1,0))
For further explanation of the formula above, copy it into an AI framework such as CoPilot, ChatGPT, Gemini, etc. using a prompt such as: Please explain in layman's terms the following Excel Conditional Formatting formula: copy and paste the formula here.
Select a priority (High, Medium, Low) from the dropdown list. Use Priority to assign weights and decision factors to scorecard questions.
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. Use benefits to assign weights and decision factors to scorecard questions.
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, out of scope, or undecided using the dropdown list.
Add comments as appropriate.