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What is the Requirements Abstraction Model in Agile?

Published in Agile Development 2 mins read

The Requirements Abstraction Model in Agile is a technique for managing and prioritizing user requirements in an iterative and flexible manner. It involves breaking down complex requirements into smaller, more manageable chunks, and then prioritizing them based on their value and risk.

Key Features of the Requirements Abstraction Model:

  • Abstraction: This model focuses on the "what" rather than the "how" of requirements. It avoids getting bogged down in technical details early on, allowing for more flexibility and adaptability as the project progresses.
  • Iteration: Requirements are refined and expanded upon in each iteration of the development cycle, ensuring that the team is always working on the most important features.
  • Prioritization: The model prioritizes requirements based on their value to the user and the overall project goals. This helps the team focus on delivering the most important functionality first.

Benefits of Using the Requirements Abstraction Model:

  • Increased Flexibility: The model allows for changes in requirements throughout the development process, making it suitable for Agile methodologies.
  • Improved Communication: By focusing on the "what" rather than the "how," the model fosters better communication between stakeholders and developers.
  • Reduced Risk: Prioritizing high-value requirements helps mitigate risks by ensuring that the most important features are delivered first.
  • Enhanced User Focus: The model promotes a user-centric approach by prioritizing features that deliver the most value to users.

Practical Example:

Imagine a project to develop a new mobile app for ordering food online. Using the Requirements Abstraction Model, you might start with the following high-level requirements:

  • User can create an account.
  • User can browse available restaurants.
  • User can place orders.
  • User can track order status.
  • User can manage payment information.

As the project progresses, these requirements can be further refined and expanded upon, adding more specific details and functionalities.

Conclusion:

The Requirements Abstraction Model is a valuable tool for managing requirements in Agile projects. By focusing on the "what" rather than the "how," prioritizing based on value, and iteratively refining requirements, this model helps ensure that projects stay focused, flexible, and user-centric.

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