PMI CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management) Examination Content OutlineBusiness Analysis FrameworksMedium
A business analyst is reviewing a set of functional requirements for a new inventory management system. One requirement states, 'The system shall allow users to search for products.' This requirement is considered incomplete and ambiguous. To improve its quality, the analyst should ensure it meets which characteristic of a good requirement?
- ARelevant
- BAttainable
- CMeasurable
- DTime-bound
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Measurable
To make the requirement 'The system shall allow users to search for products' less ambiguous and more complete, it needs to be measurable. This means specifying criteria such as search speed, search fields, and result display, which can be verified.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Relevant means the requirement contributes to the business needs and objectives.
- B. Attainable or Achievable means the requirement can realistically be met.
- D. Time-bound indicates that a requirement has a deadline or specific timeframe for completion.
SMART Requirements: Measurable
A characteristic of a good requirement, meaning that specific criteria are defined to determine if the requirement has been met, allowing for objective verification.
- Answers 'how much,' 'how many,' 'how often,' or 'how well.'
- Essential for testing and validation.
- Reduces ambiguity and subjective interpretation.
Memory trick: SMART requirements are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound.