Speaker: Razvan Radulian

Topic: Tired of the Agile community bashing the Requirements? The REAL Agile Requirements (Myths, Best Practices, and Tips)

Abstract:  I don't know about you, but I'm tired of Agile “experts” bashing the Requirements. Not because I want to defend the Requirements as some dogmatic Business Analyst devotee. Tired because those arguments don't make much sense to me. Also, because they confuse "Requirements" with BAD Requirements. I just finished reading an article (from one of top IT and services companies in the world) introducing a modern and better approach for solutions development: replace Requirements-Driven Development with Hypothesis-Driven Development. However, the authors failed to mention that those almighty hypotheses were only replacing how we validate our requirements as quickly as possible (which I fully support), not the requirements themselves (which would be a terrible idea). Many people often ask, "How should we do business analysis in Agile vs. Traditional/Waterfall?". The simplistic answer is "Business Analysis is Business Analysis. There is no difference!". A better answer (simple, but not simplistic) should be "While there are many similarities between the two approaches, there are also many differences between them. In this presentation we will explore those similarities and differences (and some common myths about Traditional vs. Agile Requirements). Some of the topics we will cover: Requirements are still requirements... but they are different, too; Filling the Requirements Pyramid (by levels vs. in slices); Requirements Horizon and the Waterfall Compromise; How to sail a boat (Waterfall vs. Agile).

Bio: As a Trainer and Consultant, Razvan partners with ASPE Training and other training providers to design, develop, and deliver public and private business courses/classes. Prior to this, Razvan spent 11 years with GlaxoSmithKline as a Systems Analyst and Integration Manager developing and maintaining business analysis strategies, processes, standards and tools. At GSK, Razvan facilitated, analyzed, documented and shared lessons learned and best practices throughout the organization. There, he also conducted and facilitated training to other Business Analysts, System Analysts and IT Employees. After his time at GSK, Razvan consulted for two Clinical Research/Testing organizations in the Research Triangle Park, NC. During his career, Razvan discovered his passion for sharing his expertise and helping organizations develop, implement and maintain business analysis/architecture strategies. Razvan is an active speaker in local and global professional organizations including International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA), Project Management Institute (PMI), Business Process Simulation Working Group and others. As a Business Transformation consultant, coach, and trainer, Razvan applies real-world lessons in his courses interactively filling the time with passion and excitement. He shares stories and case studies from his experiences and gives individuals and organizations the tools to implement industry best practices; Razvan wants to make his classes as real as possible by encouraging students to bring challenges they are dealing with at their own organizations to discuss in class or one-on-one. Razvan developed the following courses for ASPE Training: Process Modeling using BPMN, Requirements Elicitation and Collaboration, Requirements Life Cycle Management, and Controlling Requirements Risk. In addition to the courses developed by him, Razvan teaches also Business Analysis Boot Camp, Business Analysis in Agile Projects, Enterprise Business Architecture, PMI-ACP, Business Process Analysis & Design, Modeling Techniques for Business Analysts, Prototyping and more. Specialties: Business/Enterprise Architecture; Business Analysis; Business Process Modeling, Analysis/Design, and Management; User Experience/Usability; Change Management/Governance; Agile