By Karl O`Brien

Twas the night before implementation, when all through IT
Not a PC was stirring, “It’s done, it’s complete”.
The requirements were placed in vault for safe keeping,
In hopes that the system would never need fixing.

The BA’s were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of promotions danced in their heads.
And PM’s and Testers and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a post-implementation nap.

When out on the table there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to my iPhone I flew like a flash,
Opened the e-mails and I was aghast.

The system was live and test scripts all green,
But a mass of CR’s the likes I’d never seen.
“Where’s this function, that function and my drop down list?”,
To say the least, my users were pissed.

I called a team meeting in my office next morn,
I wanted to know where this problem was born.
More rapid than eagles Dev said “It’s not us”,
How quickly those techies get off the TEAM bus!

“Now BA’s! now, QA! now, PM’s and Dev!
The root of this problem we must put to bed.
Is it coding or testing or our SDLC!
We are way over budget and an end we can’t see.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard in the hall
“It’s none of them mate, none of them at all”.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
A lonely BA, BRD in hand.

He was dressed all in denim, from his head to his toe,
But who really cares, he WAS in the know.
A group of Requirements he circled with glee,
“These were approved, but never these three!”.

His eyes-how they twinkled! His dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a fool,
“Next time you’ll use a Requirement’s Tool”.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
Opening a Use Case , then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
“Doing it this way sure beats just prose”

He sprang to his feet, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they went down the Dog & Thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
“Simulation for all, and you know that I’m right!”

About the Author

Karl O’Brien is an independent consultant specializing in Requirement Definition and Management. He helps development organizations to improve requirements elicitation, documentation, validation, and communication processes via automation. Karl has over 30 years IT experience starting with Rolls Royce in Coventry, England. He moved to the USA in 1981.