Product Description

A powerful system for getting the right requirements--and creating products faster, better...and cheaper!

"Never time enough to do it right, but always time enough to do it over." In today's "faster-better-cheaper-at-any-cost" world, this is not just a joke, but an all-too-frequent reality. And, most often, a poor understanding of the requirements for a product is the reason it must be done over.

CUSTOMER-CENTERED PRODUCTS is a highly practical new book that helps readers gain a clear understanding of how to elicit the right requirements early on in a project--and make the right product the first time. Packed with useful information, enlightening real-life examples, and money-saving solutions, this book shows readers how to:

* Identify where their current requirements process is weak * Bridge communication breakdowns that lead to muddy requirements * Eliminate costly mistakes and rework * Improve product quality without increasing cost * Use operational concepts to improve requirements quality * Improve the fit between the product and the customers' needs * Prove that faster, better, cheaper is possible, and more.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #108990 in Books
• Published on: 2000-09-11
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 271 pages

Book Info
Shows managers how to prevent product failure by guiding and empowering employees and understanding the correct requirements early in the development cycle. Provides tested methods for defining products, filling the educational gap in formal training in requirements and definition management. DLC: New products.

About the Author
Ivy F. Hooks (Fair Oaks Ranch, TX) is president and CEO of Compliance Automation, Inc. She has provided training and consulting in requirements for a variety of corporations and government organizations, including Kodak and NASA. Kristin A. Farry (Friendswood, TX) is an engineer with over two decades' experience in aerospace, robotics, and biomedical engineering.

Customer Reviews

Not as good as the other reviews would indicate
I picked this up based on other reviews. I have read dozens of books on this topic as I am a consultant and trainer in this field and this book is just average. If you are looking for a primer on an end to end process, perhaps this is decent for that. If you are a practitioner that has some experience in this process, you may also find some interesting sections to learn from, but you will have to dig a bit.

To be fair, finding a good book on this topic is elusive, but one I use in my classes is Managing Software Requirements - A Use Case Approach by Leffingwell and Widrig.

Requirements management best practices for big projects
I thought this was a decent overview of the requirements process of a large project. It does not go into great depth but it does cover a wide range of topics and the implications of doing poor requirements.

Good primer on product development
A thorough and straight forward primer on developing new products. Where it lacks creativity and a wealth of examples, it provides a solid understanding and approach. Recommended reading, but I would check your local library before shelling out money for this book. A good read but not one that I would necessarily keep on my shelf for future reference.