Guide To Requirements Definition and Analysis
Guide To Requirements Definition and Analysis
Guide To Requirements Definition and Analysis
Guide
Version 3.0
Issued date: 29 April 2016
Important Warning
This document is one of a set of standards developed solely and specifically for use on Transport Assets (as defined in the Asset
Standards Authority Charter). It is not suitable for any other purpose.
You must not use or adapt it or rely upon it in any way unless you are authorised in writing to do so by a relevant NSW Government
agency. If this document forms part of a contract with, or is a condition of approval by a NSW Government agency, use of the document
is subject to the terms of the contract or approval.
This document is uncontrolled when printed or downloaded. Users should exercise their own skill and care in the use of the document.
This document may not be current. Current standards may be accessed from the Asset Standards Authority website at
www.asa.transport.nsw.gov.au.
Standard governance
Owner: Manager Systems Engineering Process, Asset Standards Authority
Authoriser: Principal Manager Authorisation and Audit, Asset Standards Authority
Approver: Executive Director, Asset Standards Authority on behalf of the ASA Configuration Control
Board
Document history
Version Summary of Changes
1.0 First issue
2.0 Addition of more guidance about system requirement specifications, including the new
Appendix D
3.0 Addition of new Appendix E – Requirements specification review
Preface
The Asset Standards Authority (ASA) is an independent unit within Transport for NSW (TfNSW)
and is the network design and standards authority for defined NSW transport assets.
The ASA is responsible for developing engineering governance frameworks to support industry
delivery in the assurance of design, safety, integrity, construction, and commissioning of
transport assets for the whole asset life cycle. In order to achieve this, the ASA effectively
discharges obligations as the authority for various technical, process, and planning matters
across the asset life cycle.
The ASA collaborates with industry using stakeholder engagement activities to assist in
achieving its mission. These activities help align the ASA to broader government expectations
of making it clearer, simpler, and more attractive to do business within the NSW transport
industry, allowing the supply chain to deliver safe, efficient, and competent transport services.
The ASA develops, maintains, controls, and publishes a suite of standards and other
documentation for transport assets of TfNSW. Further, the ASA ensures that these standards
are performance-based to create opportunities for innovation and improve access to a broader
competitive supply chain.
The ASA developed this Guide to Requirements Definition and Analysis based on the technical
processes of AS/NZS ISO/IEC 15288:2013 Systems and software engineering – System life
cycle processes. A consultative committee containing members from stakeholder groups within
Transport for NSW (TfNSW) reviewed this document and the Asset Standards Authority
Configuration Control Board approved it.
This document provides the supplier organisations with guidance through the steps involved in
identifying and capturing stakeholder requirements and developing the systems requirements
based upon the stakeholder needs.
Table of contents
1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 5
2. Purpose .................................................................................................................................................... 5
2.1. Scope ..................................................................................................................................................... 5
2.2. Application ............................................................................................................................................. 5
3. Reference documents ............................................................................................................................. 6
4. Terms and definitions ............................................................................................................................. 6
5. Requirements management ................................................................................................................... 8
5.1. Objectives of requirements management .............................................................................................. 9
5.2. Requirement types and attributes .......................................................................................................... 9
5.3. Requirement construction .................................................................................................................... 10
5.4. Requirements management tools ........................................................................................................ 12
5.5. Requirements change management ................................................................................................... 13
5.6. Requirements configuration management........................................................................................... 13
5.7. Establishing baselines ......................................................................................................................... 13
5.8. Types of requirements sources ........................................................................................................... 13
6. Requirements definition and analysis ................................................................................................. 14
7. Stakeholder requirements definition ................................................................................................... 15
7.1. Stakeholder requirements definition output ......................................................................................... 16
7.2. Business requirements specification ................................................................................................... 16
7.3. Defining stakeholder requirements ...................................................................................................... 17
8. Requirements analysis ......................................................................................................................... 19
8.1. Purpose of requirements analysis ....................................................................................................... 19
8.2. Requirements analysis output ............................................................................................................. 19
8.3. Requirements analysis activities ......................................................................................................... 20
Appendix A Requirements verification and traceability matrix template ......................................... 24
Appendix B Requirements repository structure ................................................................................. 27
Appendix C Requirement examples ..................................................................................................... 28
Appendix D SRS examples .................................................................................................................... 30
D.1. Example 1 – Replacement of a road level crossing ............................................................................ 30
D.2. Example 2 – Rolling stock replacement program ................................................................................ 37
Appendix E Requirements specification review ................................................................................. 46
1. Introduction
An Authorised Engineering Organisation (AEO) engaged by Transport for NSW (TfNSW) to
undertake engineering activities is required to have formalised requirements definition and
analysis arrangements in place. These arrangements should be relevant to the engineering
services or products provided by the AEO to TfNSW.
Any organisation applying for an AEO status should ensure that the requirements management
documentation of an AEO meets the minimum level required for the complexity of its projects or
contracts.
2. Purpose
This Guide to Requirements Definition and Analysis describes the process and key
responsibilities that an AEO and TfNSW divisions are required to implement in managing this
process.
2.1. Scope
This guide forms part of a suite of systems engineering documents and guidance notes and
further develops the guidance on requirements management as described in TS 10504 AEO
Guide to Engineering Management.
This document does not outline the evidence that an AEO should produce in order to be
authorised to perform systems engineering for TfNSW, but provides an outline of the processes
that an AEO should demonstrate.
2.2. Application
The Guide to Requirements Definition and Analysis is for use by all AEOs conducting systems
engineering activities related to engineering services undertaken for or on behalf of TfNSW.
The guidance provided in this document also applies to organisations that are currently applying
for authorisation to carry out engineering activities for TfNSW in response to a tender or are
applying to be pre-registered as an AEO for consideration when tendering for TfNSW work.
3. Reference documents
The following documents are cited in the text. For dated references, only the cited edition
applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document applies.
Australian standards
AS/NZS ISO/IEC 15288:2013 Systems and software engineering – System life cycle processes
International standards
Other references
SEBoK v1.0 Guide to the Systems Engineering Body of Knowledge (SEBoK) version 1.0
AEO Authorised Engineering Organisation; it means a legal entity (which may include a
Transport Agency as applicable) to whom the ASA has issued an ASA Authorisation
availability the measure of the percentage of time that an item or system is available to perform
its designated function
BRS business requirements specification; the document in which the business goals and
stakeholder requirements are documented
client a person that has a business need, and uses the project’s product, service or result
Note: The client is responsible and accountable for realising and delivering the
benefits. The client is usually the receiver of the benefits and can also be the sponsor.
compliance the state or fact of according with, or meeting, rules, standards or requirements
governance the rules, processes, or laws by which a business is operated, regulated, and
controlled. The exercise of authority and control between the accountable and responsible
entities within TfNSW and the AEOs such that planned outcomes are achieved.
human systems integration (as defined in ISO 29148) an interdisciplinary technical and
management process for integrating human considerations with and across all system elements
maintainability the probability that an item will be restored to operating condition, within a given
period of time, using prescribed procedures and resources
reliability the probability that a specified item will perform a specified function within a defined
environment, for a specified length of time
requirements interchange format (Req IF) defines an open, non-proprietary exchange format
review a method to provide assurance by a competent person that a defined engineering output
complies with relevant standards and specific requirements, is safe, and fit for purpose
RVTM requirements verification and traceability matrix; a list of requirements, their verification
attributes, and their traces. Sometimes referred to as a requirements allocation and traceability
matrix (RATM)
specification a document that fully describes a design element or its interfaces in terms of
requirements (functional, performance, constraints, and design characteristics) and the
qualification (validation) conditions and procedures for each requirement
stakeholder individual or group whose interest in the project is recognised if the project is to be
successful
Note: In particular, those who may be positively or negatively affected during the
project or on successful completion of the project
supplier a supplier of engineering services or products. Defined as an 'applicant' until such time
as it has been granted AEO status, after which it is referred to as an AEO
system requirements all of the requirements at the system level that describe the functions
which the system as a whole should fulfil to satisfy the stakeholder needs and requirements,
and is expressed in an appropriate combination of textual statements, views and non-functional
requirements; the latter expressing the levels of safety, security, reliability, and so on that will be
necessary
system requirements specification a description of what the system should do, in terms of the
system’s functions, interactions and interfaces with its operational environment. It
communicates the stakeholder requirements to the technical community who will specify and
build the system. Alternatively, referred to as the system requirements document.
validation the process of ensuring that the final product conforms to defined client requirements
verification the process performed to ensure that the output of a design stage, or stages,
meets the design stage input requirements
5. Requirements management
Technical requirements management processes are used to define the requirements for a
system to achieve the following:
• provide a structured means for identifying and defining all requirements from all relevant
stakeholders
• provide a means for analysing, allocating and recording all stakeholder requirements
• provide traceability of requirements, design output and the final product or service
• provide for the structured management of changes to requirements and approval process
• provide control and ensure data integrity in the recording, storing, and changing of
requirements
• specific
• necessary
• valid
• verifiable – the requirement is expressed in a manner that compliance with the requirement
can be verified by an acceptable method
• feasible – the requirement can be achieved by one or more developed system concepts at
a definable (or bounded) cost
• traceable – each requirement is traceable from stakeholder level down to the appropriate
system or element level with established parent-child relationships
• complete – all requirements of a given product or service has been specified including
interfaces
Appendix C provides a list of these attributes with description and requirement examples.
Requirements should be written in simple English. Best practice states that the requirements
written in English contain a subject of the requirement, imperative, a verb and a complement.
The requirement construct is therefore defined as follows:
• subject indicates the focus, for example: 'the system' or the 'driver control console'
• imperative indicates the priority of the requirement; for example shall, should or may
The complement syntax can be further broken down into the following:
o conditions are attributes that can be measured, verified and validated; for example,
'normal mode' is a condition
o objects are physical or logical entities referred to within the requirement; for example,
'the train' and 'train speed' are objects
o constraints provide bounds for requirements; for example, 'visually to the train driver'
and 'within a distance' are constraints
The requirement forms a complete and clear sentence as shown in the following examples:
The braking system [subject] shall [imperative] brake [verb] the train [object] on
application of service braking [condition] from a speed of 80 km/h [value] to a speed of
0 km/h [value] within a distance of 1500 m [constraint] when fully loaded at a gross
weight of 500 tons [condition].
The driver control console [subject] shall [imperative] display [verb] the train speed
[object] visually to the train driver [constraint] in units of km/h [constraint] during
normal mode [condition].
The use of words such as 'must', 'are', 'is' and 'will', should be avoided as they can convey
unclear and inconsistent meaning.
Negative imperatives such as 'shall not', 'should not' or 'may not' should be avoided where
practicable as they can convey ambiguous meaning.
The following terms should be avoided, where possible, in requirement construction as they are
unbounded and can lead to ambiguous requirements:
• over specification such as '100% reliability', 'safe', 'handle all failures', 'fully upgradeable',
'run on all platforms'
Further details regarding requirement construction is provided in INCOSE Guide for Writing
Requirements.
When an agreed set of stakeholder needs is defined, a requirements verification and traceability
matrix (RVTM) should also be developed as a part of this process. This RVTM lists all the
stakeholder requirements, their verification attributes, and the traceability back to the source of
a particular requirement. The RVTM also includes the status of the requirement, that is, whether
the requirement is compliant, partially compliant or noncompliant.
A list of attributes, which feature in a requirements verification and traceability matrix, is located
in Appendix A.
Any selected tools should be capable of transferring data to the TfNSW requirements
management tool using the OMG requirements interchange format (Req IF).
Changes are managed by ensuring proposed changes are subjected to an impact assessment,
a review and a stakeholder approval process applying careful requirements tracing and version
management. This stakeholder approval process includes approval by the TfNSW configuration
management and asset assurance committee (CMAAC) and permission from key stakeholders.
The project configuration management plan should identify the baselines used for the project
including associated levels of authority required for change approval.
• functional requirements
• performance requirements
• interface requirements
• process requirements
• non-functional requirements
• quality requirements
• design constraints
• safety
The requirements that are agreed between TfNSW and the AEO at the time of signing the
contract become the baseline requirements for the product or service.
The requirements specification takes the form of a suite of requirements depending upon the
level of requirements definition performed by TfNSW prior to AEO engagement. The
stakeholder requirements are also known as a business requirements specification (BRS). The
system level requirements are also known as a system requirements specification (SRS).
Appendix B provides a diagram describing the relationship between the business level
requirements, system level requirements and element level requirements.
Performed at the successful completion of each life cycle stage are further baselines of
requirements. An agreed change control process is used when implementing changes to
baseline requirements.
Requirements definition and analysis forms part of the continuous requirements management
process. This incorporates the following processes throughout a project life cycle:
• eliciting requirements
• tracing requirements
• agreeing requirements
• documenting requirements
An initial design brief incorporating a set of desired outcomes is expanded into a full set of
manageable requirements using stakeholder requirements definition.
Requirements analysis takes the initial set of stakeholder requirements and assists in
developing them into a full set of guidelines and specifications that are required to guide the
work. The stages or output of a system is measured against these specifications to determine
whether the system is fit for purpose as intended.
• AS/NZS ISO/IEC 15288:2013 Systems and software engineering – System life cycle
processes
User need /
customer Stakeholder
experience need
User Stakeholder
requirements need
Operator document
need
Maintainer
need
For each stakeholder requirement, traceability to the source of the stakeholder requirement is
identified and recorded.
The stakeholder requirements form the baseline documents that are used as the basis of design
and should be subject to configuration control.
The process flow charts for generic requirements definition are available in the Systems
Engineering Body of Knowledge (SEBoK).
Further details regarding verification and validation, including the allocation of verification
methods is provided in TS 10506 AEO Guide to Verification and Validation.
• stakeholder and business requirements in the context of why the system is being
developed or changed which is also referred to as the business case
• the manner in which the system interacts with the intended users
A completed BRS typically outlines the stakeholder requirements relating to the following
strategic areas:
• enterprise or business
In certain situations, a BRS might exist but contain insufficient information to address all of the
stakeholder requirements including the business requirements, user requirements, maintenance
requirements and operational requirements. Where this situation arises, further work is required
to elicit and define the complete set of necessary stakeholder requirements before any attempt
is made to develop the system level requirements.
Business requirements specifications are usually prepared by the transport planning entity.
However, in some situations the transport planning entity may contract an AEO to assist with
the preparation of this document.
Analyse and
Elicit stakeholder Define stakeholder maintain
requirements requirements stakeholder
requirements
Eliciting stakeholder requirements requires the AEO to identify all the individuals, groups or
organisations that have a legitimate interest in the system and then identify their requirements.
product or service adequately fulfils the stakeholder's expectations. The following high-level
steps can assist in compiling a comprehensive requirements document:
• identify the interactions between users, operators and maintainers and the system
Development of a system to meet all of the stakeholder's needs is often subject to many
constraints. These constraints can include the following:
• standards
• safety features
• operational environment
Each requirement should originate from an authorised source, signed by all of the relevant
stakeholders and be attributed a finalised status. The elicited requirements should include input
from all identified stakeholders.
• record the stakeholder requirements in a form suitable for management throughout the life
cycle
• establish a requirements database and store all requirements with information that can be
traced back to their source documents
• identify and categorise requirements according to types to meet the project and design
constraints
• review the captured requirements with stakeholders to ensure needs have been captured
and expressed correctly
• identify the verification and validation method and acceptance criteria for the stakeholder
requirement
8. Requirements analysis
Section 8.1 through to Section 8.3 explains the requirements analysis.
• functional requirements
• performance requirements
For each system requirement, traceability should be identified and recorded against the
stakeholder requirement.
The verification method for each system requirement should also be defined.
When these system requirements are approved, they form the baseline specifications for design
purposes, and are subject to configuration control.
When an agreed set of system requirements is established, the requirements verification and
traceability matrix (RVTM) should be established or updated.
• provides background information about the overall objectives for the system and its
operating environment
• can include conceptual models designed to illustrate the system context, usage scenarios,
the internal and external interfaces with the operational environment, data, information and
workflows
SRSs are usually prepared by the transport projects entity; however, in most situations the
transport projects entity contracts an AEO to undertake the development of an SRS.
Requirements analysis comprises defining the system requirements and then analysing and
maintaining the system requirements.
Analyse and
Define system
maintain system
requirements
requirements
When the requirements analysis process is complete, the system requirements are submitted to
all authorised stakeholders for review and validation.
Review the stakeholder requirements, including both user's and maintainer's requirements
and the operation environment to understand the boundaries of the required product or
service.
Undertake functional analysis and derive new functional requirements that are required to
achieve the project mission or service outcome. This can include safety controls identified
to mitigate risks as identified through hazard analysis workshops.
These can include constraints defined by the stakeholders, limitations of the solution or
compliance with standards.
• define interfaces
This should include technical and enterprise interfaces both internal and external to the
system-of-interest. Interfaces should be defined and should be categorised as one or more
of the following:
o information interface
• define speciality process factors; for example, health and safety, security, human factors,
reliability, availability and maintainability
These can include factors defined by the stakeholders, compliance with standards or
outputs from hazard and risk analysis activities.
Further details regarding system safety, including hazard analysis is provided in TS 20001
System Safety Standard for New or Altered Assets.
Identify the evidence required to demonstrate where and how the requirements will be
verified. This occurs through executing verification and validation plans. Verification and
validation plans are also referred to as inspection and test plans.
This includes the identification of internal and external interfaces, which requires
management to ensure that the implications of design development in one system or
element are fully incorporated in other systems or elements.
System requirements should have parent-child traceability to the source document or direct to
the stakeholder need. This should include all derived requirements with information that traces
back to parent requirements or source documents. The established traceability includes all
identified interfaces.
• architectural design
• verification entities that satisfy a requirement, along with any supporting models and
analysis
• all interfaces
Note that this example includes the system requirement headings only and does not
include the actual system requirements.
System purpose
To improve safety and traffic flow the existing road level crossing should be replaced by a grade
separation.
System scope
The system is the level crossing replacement. The business requirements for this project are
defined in the level crossing replacement business requirements specification. The level
crossing currently causes traffic congestion on the road, safety and security incidents.
The system will remove the existing level crossing and provide a grade separated thoroughfare
for road vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians. The system will not divert the road and the railway
lines.
System overview
System context
The system consists of the following major elements:
• railway lines
• thoroughfare
System functions
The major system capabilities, conditions and constraints are as follows:
User characteristics
Users of the system have the functions and locations as provided in Table 10.
Functional requirements
• decommissioning of existing
• grade separation
• railway lines
• railway signage
• railway lighting
• railway signalling
• control systems
• railway fencing
• traction power
• signalling power
• overhead wiring
• railway safety
• roadway safety
• cycleway safety
• pathway safety
• telecommunications
• stormwater management
• water supply
• electrical supply
• exhaust fumes
• roadway
• pathway
• cycleway
• roadway signage
• thoroughfare lighting
• security monitoring
• railway fencing
Usability requirements
• train drivers
• vehicle drivers
• pedestrians
• cyclists
• maintainers
Performance requirements
• train types
• vehicle types
• number of footpaths
• operational life
• fence heights
• train frequency
• train speeds
• roadway speeds
• cycleway speeds
• monitoring coverage
• monitoring resolution
• monitoring retention
• availability of thoroughfare
• visual appearance
System interfaces
External interfaces
• railway lines
• signalling systems
• telecommunication systems
• stabling yards
• train stations
• roadway
• footpath
• cycleway
• overhead wiring
• water supply
• gas supply
• stormwater system
• electrical supply
Internal interfaces
• trains on tracks
• vehicles on thoroughfare
• pedestrians on thoroughfare
• bikes on thoroughfare
System operations
Human system integration
• footpath operation
• maintainer operation
Maintainability
• thoroughfare inspection
• graffiti prevention
• graffiti removal
Reliability
• maintenance mode
• fault mode
• emergency mode
Physical characteristics
Physical
• thoroughfare location
Adaptability
Environmental conditions
• temperature range
• humidity range
• salt spray
• flooding
• railway noise
• railway vibration
• electromagnetic emissions
• ventilation
System security
Physical security
Network security
Information management
• information displays
• video archiving
• video playback
• ISO standards
• Australian standards
• ASA standards
• RISSB standards
• training
• competency
• spare parts
• durability of components
• obsolescence of components
• documentation
• operation manuals
• maintenance manuals
• inspection manuals
• road deliveries
• rail deliveries
Verification
The system verification plan defines the verification approaches and methods to verify each of
the system requirements.
Note that this example includes the system requirement headings only and does not
include the actual system requirements.
System purpose
To improve the safety, reliability and overall customer experience on the existing electric rail
network by replacing the electric rolling stock fleet.
System scope
The system is the rolling stock fleet replacement. Defined in the rolling stock replacement
business requirements specification are the business requirements for this project.
The system will replace the existing electric rolling stock fleet with comfortable, safe and reliable
rolling stock.
The system will operate with the existing fixed infrastructure and depots.
System overview
System context
• trains
• passengers on trains
System functions
• move passengers
• carry passengers
User characteristics
Users of the system have the functions and locations as specified in Table 11.
• propulsion
• guide on track
• contain load
• passenger seating
• passenger standing
• customer experience
• passenger safety
• external lighting
• internal lighting
• headlights
• taillights
• windows
• passenger displays
• announcements
• Wi-Fi
• passenger telephones
• electrical power
• security monitoring
• crew accommodation
• crew controls
• train monitoring
• crew displays
• crew communications
• signage
• train visibility
• data logging
Usability requirements
• train crew
• people walking
• cyclists
• maintainers
Performance requirements
• seating capacity
• standing capacity
• crashworthiness
• temperature range
• humidity range
• ventilation capacity
• station compatibility
• window coverage
• announcement coverage
• announcement levels
• ride levels
• noise levels
• vibration levels
• data parameters
• data retention
• operating life
• operating speeds
• acceleration
• speed sustainment
• deceleration
• stopping
• supply voltage
• supply frequency
• headlight illumination
• taillight illumination
• power consumption
• availability
• branding
• colour schemes
System interfaces
External interfaces
• railway lines
• overhead wiring
• signalling systems
• control systems
• telecommunication systems
• platforms
Internal interfaces
• passengers
• train crew
• operational staff
• maintenance staff
System operations
Human system integration
• door operation
• seat operation
• maintainer operation
Maintainability
• periodic maintenance
• inspection access
• graffiti prevention
• graffiti removal
• internal cleaning
• external cleaning
Reliability
• maintenance mode
• fault mode
• emergency mode
Physical characteristics
Physical
• weight
• volume
• dimensions
Adaptability
Environmental conditions
• temperature range
• humidity range
• wind
• rain
• snow
• noise
• vibration
• electromagnetic emissions
System Security
Information management
• video archiving
• data retention
• video playback
• Australian standards
• ISO standards
• ASA standards
• WHS Act
• RISSB standards
• wash facilities
• training
• competency
• spare parts
• durability of components
• obsolescence of components
• documentation
• operation manuals
• maintenance manuals
• inspection manuals
• delivery to site
Verification
The system verification plan defines the verification approaches and methods to verify each of
the system requirements.
• assumptions that the system will operate with the existing train operating conditions
• assumption that the system will operate with the existing infrastructure