I found both of Ellen's books to be very valuable, not only as study guides and 'memory joggers' but also in my everyday work place. They are both valuable tools no BA can afford to be without!

I'm a consultant for requirements and training and also teach a university extension program on the subject and this is a great book that describes the process from a-z. It uses a variety of sources and has selected what is a good best practices list. It also has some good examples and diagrams.

The organization takes a little getting used to, mostly because there is a lot of information in a small package. I wish there also was a better linkage between the material and the references so I could go directly to the source for more info. Other than that, this is one of the better books to have on your shelf as an overall requirements reference.

I have read several books on requirements; And I must say this one is exceptional in content and delivery.Thanks Ellen keep doing your stuff.

I bought this because I have and like Gottesdiner's "Requirements by Collaboration." The idea of the "Memory Jogger" was very appealing. That is, my requirement was to have quick access to the essential requirements of the requirements process that I could use as a content and quality sanity check throughout the development project life cycle.

What "Memory Jogger" delivered was a good basic text on the requirements process presented in a virtually unusable format.

The rationale behind the "pocket-sized" format is beyond me. This will not fit into my pocket. I'm already carrying a laptop, a project binder (or two) and probably a flip chart; one more reasonably-sized book isn't going to make much difference in what I'm lugging around. Indeed, its size, shape, and weight guarantee that the "Memory Jogger" will either constantly slip from the stack I'm carrying around or get buried under the stacks on my desk.

The more serious problem with the format is that the type is too small. In attempting to fold a reasonably complete text on requirements into the inappropriate format, the publisher has reduced point size as well as cramped character spacing. In some sections the spacing between words has been reduced to the extent that the text is virtually unreadable.

An additional issue with the small page format is that most sentences are wrapped around multiple lines - one example that I'm looking at right now runs to five lines, making it hard to read and comprehend. Multi-column tables are obviously even worse. Let me emphasize that this is not because the content is verbose or poorly written; it's because of the constraints of the format.

The reviewer who was looking for flip charts or fold-outs is on the right track. I would also suggest that a more extensive use of color would have been useful, say by tipping the pages of each section in a different color. This would be a nice, fast visual indicator - one could flip quickly to the green section or the purple section as one needed.

This is good reference material. I am a Sr. BA with BCBSA. I have been referencing this guide for helpful tips and methods to elicit requirements. It is a good compliment and addition to the library but do not rely on it to get you through if you do not have experience as a BA.

This is a text book not a memory jogger. I was serious expecting a 2-10 page foldout or some sort of flowchart.

Good material but a lot more than a memory jogger.

This is a great little compendium with lots of practical advice for requirements gathering. I love it.

I went to a conference in Florida and attended a workshop held by Ellen Gottesdiener. She's amazing in person and for a Requirements Management nerd like me, inspiring. She reminds you to use common sense and helps "string" it all together - models, specifications, stakeholder charts, etc. When I found out that this book was available, we ordered it for all our Business Analysts as a quick guide/reference. I use mine to help mentor other Analysts on a daily basis. I recommend this memory jogger if you are accountable for producing requirements and need a refresher or this is your first time. Very helpful and easy to read for all level of Analysts.

I just got my copy (so it is still available). There is little I can add to the other reviews, other than support them wholeheartedly.

Writing style is very clear. Coverage is comprehensive. Standardized headers, icons, tables, and lists communicate ideas concisely.

Examples, examples, examples ...

One thing that makes this booklet more valuable than many other requirements texts is the wealth of examples. Everything is illustrated through its own realistic well-chosen example. The examples show you exactly what a particular output (model, diagram, text fragment, table, ...) should look like. Not just abstract, generic advice, but instantiated, concrete stuff to prove that you can actually follow the advice.

I switched over from systems development to BSA (business systems analysis) work, and found this book to be a good primer and reference. I'm not sure if it is in print any longer.

This is one of my most referenced books. Our PMO department has given out over 60 books to the Business Analysts, Project Managers, and Quality Team. We also give one to each consultant when they come on-board. I keep discovering new things in this book, the appendix has lots of gems! I highly recommend this book.

This is one of my most referenced books. Our PMO department has given out over 60 books to the Business Analysts, Project Managers, and Quality Team. We also give one to each consultant when they come on-board. I keep discovering new things in this book, the appendix has lots of gems! I highly recommend this book.

"However, for reasons that are not entirely clear to me, a
confirmed requirements engineer, people seem to find haggling
over requirements a royal pain." Daniel M. Berry.

For me, the pain begins with the first interview. It starts as a dull ache and migrains outward until the last Use Case falls to the floor. Requirements gathering was never high on my list of fun things to do. Offering a range of valuable information for the reader, Ellen Gottesdiener's book offers the aspirin I have long needed.

This small handbook is a highly compressed package of knowledge. The Software Requirements Memory Jogger is full of excellent information for the novice as well as the expert. Gottesdiener gets a grade 'A' for thoughtful preparation and good organization. In the book, you'll get clear summaries and illustrations.

This is a highly compressed package of knowledge. Offering a range of value for the reader, this book is full of excellent information for the novice as well as the expert. Gottesdiener gets a grade 'A' for thoughtful preparation and organization. In the book, you'll get clear summaries and illustrations. I liked the layout and the style. I'll admit requirements gathering is not my favorite activity, but having a handy reference is a definite plus.

This small easy-to-carry book should be in the hands of all business analysts and project managers. It is useful at any point in a project to develop and manage good software requirements fast! Just turn to any page in the book to find relevent information on things you do every day for software requirements.

Ellen Gottesdiener has another book that complements this memory jogger, "Requirements by Collaboration" that goes into more detail about facilitated workshops. I recommend both books, but at a bare minimum we should all have this memory jogger.