Training activity information
Details
Interpret the results of a functional requirements exercise to produce a detailed specification
Type
Developmental training activity (DTA)
Evidence requirements
Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee.
Reflection on the activity at one or more time points after the event including learning from the activity and/or areas of the trainees practice for development.
An action plan to implement learning and/or to address skills or knowledge gaps identified.
Considerations
- Context of the project and how it will be used in the clinical environment
- Functional and non-functional requirements
- Systems modelling methods
Reflective practice guidance
The guidance below is provided to support reflection at different time points, providing you with questions to aid you to reflect for this training activity. They are provided for guidance and should not be considered as a mandatory checklist. Trainees should not be expected to provide answers to each of the guidance questions listed.
Before action
- What is the main goal of interpreting functional requirements and creating a detailed specification? What should this specification enable in the context of a project’s clinical need?
- What specific aspects of understanding functional requirements and developing specifications do you want to learn more about through this activity? Are there particular techniques or standards for creating specifications you aim to explore?
- How will you approach reviewing the results of the functional requirements exercise? What resources (e.g., templates, examples of specifications) might be helpful to consult beforehand? Have you discussed the expected format, level of detail, and any specific requirements for the specification with your training officer?
In action
- Pay attention to your actions. How are you approaching the task of interpreting the results? Why are you doing it this way?
- What decisions are you making as you analyse the functional requirements and translate them into a specification?
- What aspects of this process feel intuitive, and what requires more conscious effort?
- How effective are your actions in understanding the functional requirements and developing a clear specification?
- What challenges are you facing as you interpret the information and structure the specification?
- What can you learn from this process as it unfolds about interpreting requirements and creating specifications?
- How does this activity connect to your existing knowledge of requirements gathering and specification writing?
- Are there alternative approaches you could be considering in interpreting the requirements or structuring the specification?
- Are you working within your understanding of what a detailed specification entails?
On action
- Summarise the key findings of the functional requirements exercise and the main elements of the detailed specification you produced.
- What new insights did you gain about interpreting functional requirements?
- How did you develop your skills in producing a detailed specification?
- Were there any surprises or difficulties you encountered, and what did you learn from them?
- How does the ability to create detailed specifications relate to future professional practice?
- Did your reflections during the process influence how you developed the specification?
- What areas of interpreting requirements or writing specifications do you need to develop further? How will you apply what you learned to future specification tasks? What are your next steps for improving in this area, and do you need any support or resources?
Beyond action
- Have you looked back at the functional requirements and the specification you produced?
- How does your current understanding of requirements gathering compare to your understanding then?
- Have you discussed this process with colleagues and has their perspective offered new insights?
- How has the skill of interpreting requirements and creating specifications influenced your approach to other tasks?
- Have you used the communication skills developed in agreeing the specification in other interactions?
- How did this experience prepare you for recording project requirements?
- What transferable skills, such as attention to detail and logical thinking, did you develop? What further development actions can you identify to improve your ability to elicit and document requirements for future software projects?
Relevant learning outcomes
| # | Outcome |
|---|---|
| # 1 |
Outcome
Summarise and agree the clinical need for a project and develop a specification of requirement. |
| # 9 |
Outcome
Practice in accordance with legislation, ethics and best practice. |
| # 10 |
Outcome
Demonstrate effective communication skills with stakeholders and the multidisciplinary team. |