PMI CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management) Examination Content OutlineBusiness Analysis FrameworksHard
A business analyst is reviewing a set of functional requirements for a new inventory management system. One requirement states: 'The system should be user-friendly.' Which characteristic of a SMART requirement is MOST notably missing or poorly defined in this statement?
- AMeasurable
- BSpecific
- CRelevant
- DAchievable
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Measurable
The term 'user-friendly' is subjective and not measurable. To make this a SMART requirement, it would need quantitative criteria, such as 'The system should allow a new user to complete an inventory search within 30 seconds with no more than 2 errors.' This makes it measurable.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. While not specific, the primary issue is the lack of measurability, which often precedes specificity in such general terms.
- C. Relevant refers to whether the requirement aligns with project goals, which isn't the direct problem here.
- D. Achievable refers to whether the requirement is realistic, which cannot be determined from this vague statement.
SMART Requirements: Measurable
A measurable requirement includes criteria that can be used to determine if the requirement has been successfully met. It answers 'how much, how many, or how often?'
- Quantifiable success criteria.
- Allows for objective verification.
- Avoids subjective interpretations.
Memory trick: SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound.