We are concluding our Requirements.net consortium series entitled “Maximize IT Value ” with a summary of the assets available for download.     The Requirements.net consortium is a collection of company’s supporting the industry trend toward improving IT efficiency through Business Analyst empowerment.  Members of the requirements.net consortium include BA Times (www.batimes.com), Cap Gemini (www.capgemini.com), Blueprint (www.blueprintsys.com), Centerline Partners (www.centerline-partners.com),  Zap Technologies (www.zap-t.com), Requirements Solutions Group (www.requirementsolutions.com),  RQNG (www.requirementsnetwork.com), HP Software (www.hp.com), Orasi Software (www.orasi.com), SkyIT Group (www.skyitgroup.com), and CorTechs (www.cortechs.com).As a summary of the series assets available for download:

Series Podcasts: We have published three Podcasts as part of this series, all of which are available for download at no charge.  As a summary:

1. Podcast:  A Look at Agile with Martin Crisp, CTO of Blueprint  - In this exclusive podcast, Martin Crisp talks about the importance of business analysis and requirements definition in Agile development.   Download here.
2. Podcast:  Interview with Genefa Murphy, Product Manager at HP Software -In this episode, Genefa Murphy discusses how HP Quality Center 10’s enhanced requirements management module dramatically improves the practice of requirements management.  Download it here.
3. Podcast:  Interview with Brian Cook, CEO of Cook Enterprises -Brian talks about the importance of models and simulation in defining application requirements.   Download it here.
4. Podcast:  Interview with Jonathan Babcock, a BA’s Perspective on Maximizing IT Value -   Our most popular podcast ever.  Jonathan talks about defining application requirements and how BA’s can Maximize IT Value.  Download it here. 

Whitepapers and Webinars:   Below is a summary of the whitepapers and on-demand webinar assets from the series:

1. Authoring Requirements in an Agile World Whitepaper  - written by Tony Higgins, this whitepaper outlines how to define requirements for Agile methodologies.  Download it here.
2. Reducing Risk through requirements-driven quality management  - written by HP, this whitepapers looks at driving a quality approach to requirements management.   Read it now.
3. On Demand Webinar:  Iterative Requirements Validation - This 45 minute webinar features Steven Davis, frequently referred as the Grandfather of Requirements.  This webinar looks at how upfront validation helps ensure accuracy of requirements assets.  Watch it here.
4. On Demand Webinar:  Authoring Requirements in an Agile World.  This 45 minute webinar looks at the right way to define requirements in Agile.  It features a case-study from Imageright corporation.  Watch it here.

Best reader quotes from email and from the blog comment system:

 ”We see a lot of focus on global alignment in the bank. The message of connecting quality and business analysis is very much part of our proposed process. We have deloitte in house helping with implementation of a new requirements program that helps visualize our application requirements. This webinar was helpful.” - Lisa

“We are facing a serious problem with Requirements understanding with our offshore teams. The collective challenges are identical to the case study demonstrated ” - Richard

“My company sees value in the “small v” definition right now. And, frankly, this is a problem. We have just cancelled three projects that are needed by the business. Our team is branching into the local telephone market, and the system delay makes the business delay its plans. Yes, we will save the project costs, but we are now six months behind the business plan. In today’s economy, people cannot see much further than 30 days ahead.” - Sarah

“We are in the information publication industry. Most new initiatives are around business news being delivered over the net. We are diversifying our business away from paper based publications. Its the growth area. Regarding “everyone is afraid to be on this side of the arguement”, I think this is the only side to be on. Its about being on the sharp side of the arrow” - Cinda

Thank you for your participation in this Requirements.net series.  Next week, we will be launching a new series entitled “The Global Business Analyst”.